A Northampton woman was ordered to wear an electronic tag for three months after she caused unnecessary suffering to her pet dog.
Katie Rattley, aged 23, of Collyweston Road, Rectory Farm, and Tiffa Miller, aged 23, of Sharrow Place, Ecton Brook, appeared in Northampton Magistrates’ Court last Friday, charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a Staffordshire bull terrier.
The pair pleaded guilty.
Kevin Mc Cole, prosecuting, said an RSPCA officer visited Rattley’s home on September 27 to check on the brindle and white dog, Diesel.
He said: “The officer said Diesel was in an emaciated state with his ribs and hips sticking out. He had a significant flea allergy and fur loss.”
Jennifer Evans, mitigating, said it was a case of neglect due to contributing factors, rather than a deliberate desire to hurt the pet.
She said the neglect happened while Rattley was heavily pregnant and visiting her mum in hospital, and added: “They have genuine remorse for what has happened.”
The court heard a vet said the dog suffered the worst case of emaciation on the scale and had to be destroyed. Presiding magistrate John Kirkham sentenced Rattley to a three-month community order and a three-month curfew. Miller was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 250 hours of unpaid work. The pair were banned from owning animals for five years and were ordered to pay £100 court costs each.