Dog suffered from severe weight loss and untreated abscess, court hears
A SWANSEA Valley man has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after admitting failing to meet the welfare needs of his elderly Dalmatian, whose emaciated body was taken to a veterinary practice following her death.
Matthew Edward Perry, 39, of Parc Gilbertson, Pontardawe, appeared before Swansea Magistrates’ Court on June 3, where he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The court heard that Perry failed to ensure the needs of his 13-year-old Dalmatian, Pepper, were met by neglecting to investigate or address her poor body condition and failing to seek prompt veterinary treatment for an abscess on her jaw.
Concerns were raised when Pepper’s body was taken to a veterinary practice on August 25 last year for cremation.
In a statement presented to the court, a vet who examined the dog described being “very concerned” by Pepper’s condition.
The vet said Pepper was emaciated, with her ribs, spine and hip bones clearly visible, and showed significant loss of muscle mass. She was given a body condition score of one out of nine, with four to five considered normal.
The statement explained that Pepper would have been weak and uncomfortable in such a condition, affecting her ability to behave naturally.
Veterinary examination also revealed a wound on her upper jawbone, believed to be a burst abscess that had not been treated.
The vet said: “An abscess generally throbs and is tender to the touch due to the pressure of the pus build-up and would have been painful.”
It was estimated that Pepper had been suffering for at least three weeks before her death. The court also heard that the dog had not been seen by the veterinary practice since 2018.
Perry was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also made subject to a 12-month community order, including 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
In addition, he was ordered to pay £400 in costs and was disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years.
Following the hearing, RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Cooper thanked the veterinary practice for its assistance during the investigation.
She said: “We’d like to thank the veterinary practice for their assistance here in what must have been an upsetting incident to deal with.
“All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and should have their needs met.”
