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Owner sentenced after emaciated dog put down

Rachael McMenemy
News imageRSPCA An overhead shot of a brown dog laying down on a white mat. Her bones are clearly visible underneath her fur.RSPCA
Vets said Ruby was so weak she collapsed while trying to walk into the clinic

A man has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after his dog became emaciated and suffering from skin disease and sores which led to her being put down.

Dennis Stephen Ramsey, 70, from Jaywick in Essex, was convicted of two offences under the Animal Welfare Act relating to Ruby, his Dogue de Bordeaux.

Ruby was taken to the RSPCA in Colchester in February last year by Ramsey's son, where she collapsed after walking in and a request was made she be put to sleep.

"Ruby's condition should never have been allowed to deteriorate to this extent and it's tragic that her last days and weeks were spent in pain," said RSPCA inspector Rebecca Yarrow.

Ruby was "barely responsive, emaciated and exceedingly weak" when examined by the vet who examined her, the animal welfare charity said.

She was nearly half the weight of a healthy female of the breed, and it was noted her coat was dirty and unkempt.

She had previously been referred to the clinic for skin disease in June 2022 by the RSPCA and concerns about weight loss and ongoing skin disease were noted in January 2024.

However, the charity said Ramsey, of Gorse Way, never brought Ruby to a follow-up appointment.

He was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to take reasonable steps to meet the needs of an animal.

News imageRSPCA A close up of crusting on a dog's nose.RSPCA
Ruby's nose had crusted over making it hard for her to breathe

The RSPCA said that a veterinary nurse told the court that "every bone in her body was visible and she had a large open ulcer to her left elbow. The right elbow had thickened skin and fur loss".

"She was struggling to breathe due to crusting over her nose that was covering her airways, and she had faeces stuck to the underside of her tail," the nurse added.

Alongside the ban, Ramsey was sentenced at Colchester Magistrates' Court to 26 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge and £500 in costs.

The RSPCA said Ramsey expressed remorse in court where he said he had "tried his best" despite his age and mental health issues.

Yarrow said: "Seeking help at an earlier stage would have prevented significant suffering for Ruby and could have prevented euthanasia."

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