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Appalling state of rescued Ruby

12/11/2008

A GLOSSOP couple have been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an English bull terrier.

Three-legged Ruby was found to be more than a stone underweight for a dog of her age and with grotesquely overgrown claws.

Inspector Vicki McDonald said: "Ruby was in a shocking condition when she came to our attention. She was extremely emaciated, with her ribs and hips clearly visible. Within five weeks of simple feeding and watering she went from weighing 12.34kg to 17.2kg. The average weight for a dog of her breed, sex and age is about 20kg.  I’ve never seen such overgrown claws. They were so bad one had actually become embedded in the pad of her foot."

Emma Nicholson-Campbell, 27, and Simon Glen Campbell, 35, both of Jones Street, Glossop, were convicted in their absence at Buxton Magistrates’ Court.

The RSPCA had originally received a call from a member of the public to its cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234999.

Initially the concern was that a dog had been abandoned at the property so seals were put around the door to establish whether or not a person had come home.

When Ms McDonald attended two days later, the couple were there. They showed her the dog but said it belonged to their lodger who had "done a runner".

They acknowledged Ruby was in a poor state and signed her over to the RSPCA.

The inspector tried for several days to reach the lodger on a mobile phone number given by the couple, but there was no answer.

A friend of the couple then gave a statement saying he had previously owned the dog for two years.

Ms McDonald added: "All owners have a responsibility to meet the needs of the animals in their care, whatever they may be. Mr and Mrs Campbell completely neglected to meet the most simple of these, providing food and water, and trimming her claws. Happily, as they signed Ruby over into our care, after making a full recovery she was able to be re-homed and is now living with an owner with specific experience of looking after English bull terriers."

A warrant with bail was issued for the couple's arrest by Buxton Magistrates on Friday. Sentencing is scheduled to take place at the court on 2 December.

The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is six months in prison and/or a £20,000 fine.