Pet owner gets 10-year ban for ignoring ill dog

A woman who did not take her severely ill dog to the vet, resulting in it having to be put down, has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

The RSPCA said it visited Modesta Vaisviliene's home in Gatis Street, Wolverhampton, after a member of the public raised concerns about the welfare of animals there.

French bulldog Boss was found in the garden visibly underweight, struggling to walk and in pain with toilet issues, the charity said.

Vaisviliene pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 12 January and was also sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to pay £350 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

RSPCA animal welfare officer Ash Moore said: "When I touched his ears and stomach he was clearly uncomfortable and showed signs of pain in the way of snapping and breathing heavily."

A vet found he weighed 10.1kg (22lb) when he should have been about 15kg (33lb).

He was experiencing mobility issues and showed signs of pain, reacting to any manipulation of his spine, back legs, and abdomen, the charity said.

He was also urinating without seeming to realise and X-rays showed he was constipated.

Euthanasia was recommended because of the severity of his condition, which was carried out with the consent of Vaisviliene, the RSPCA said.

"Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment they need when they need it," Moore said.

"Boss was in urgent need of help but was left to suffer in pain and discomfort."

Vaisviliene admitted causing unnecessary suffering to her dog by failing to investigate and address the cause of his poor bodily condition between 11 January and 11 April last year.

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.