The owner of a dog who has been transformed after being rescued by the RSPCA has been banned from keeping animals for five years.
James David Hey (date of birth: 18/03/1989), of Weymouth, Dorset, pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
RSPCA Inspector Patrick Bailey, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, visited Hey’s address after being contacted by police about a dog named Harper. There were concerns for the poor body condition, an apparent skin condition, and unsuitable living conditions.
He said: “I could instantly see she looked very underweight with her ribs being clearly visible, her stomach was tucked in and her spine and hips were starting to be prominent. I felt her body looked particularly underweight in comparison to the size of head, which was quite big.
“She was friendly but a little timid, holding herself low to the ground, with some lip-licking and holding her ears back. There was an obvious strip of fur loss from the middle of her back, along to the base of tail. She had scurfy skin and a large amount of live fleas could be clearly seen running and jumping around her body. The skin on her back legs and around her genitals was thickened and a dark greyish, almost black colour, with fur loss.
“Although I did not enter the room she had been found in, it was immediately obvious that the living conditions of the bedsit style-room were unhygienic and unsuitable due to the extremely strong smell of ammonia that was apparent as soon as the door was opened.”
The vet confirmed she was suffering unnecessarily due to her body weight and skin condition and confirmed that her needs for a suitable diet and appropriate treatment for her flea infestation had not been met.
Harper – who had fleas visible covering her fur – was given flea and worm treatment and gentle refeeding.
She was looked after by the team at RSPCA Brent Knoll Animal Centre in Somerset throughout her recovery, and she quickly gained weight and her skin improved. She’s recently undergone cruciate surgery. Once she has recovered, she’ll be ready for rehoming.
Hey was also fined £160 and ordered to pay £400 in costs when he was sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates Court on September 30. In mitigation it was said Hey, who is currently in HMP Winchester for unrelated matters, was remorseful and was struggling with depression.
Inspector Patrick Bailey added: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment they need when they need it.
“Animals are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy. Owning an animal is a privilege – and ensuring appropriate care, including a suitable diet, is a key part of the responsibility we have towards them.”
Full details of offence:
“That between 14th October 2024 and 14th November 2024 at Wyke Road, Weymouth, you did not take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal, namely a black and white bull breed type dog known as Harper, for which you were responsible, were met to the extent required by good practice by one or a combination of the following:
- By accommodating the said animal in an unsuitable environment contaminated by urine and the smell of ammonia, faeces and rubbish.
- By failing to provide adequate nutrition for the animal’s needs, leading to the dog being underweight.
- By failing to provide veterinary treatment in respect of dermatitis.
- By failing to provide any or adequate parasitic control.
contrary to Section 9(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006”.
