Brothers banned from keeping pets after dogs found starving

Charles Arnot and David Simons, both of Hotchpudding Lane, in Newcastle admitted two offences under the Animal Welfare Act after German Shepherd Tyson and Husky Aurora were discovered severely underweight and untreated.

German Shepard, Tyson, was found to have a sloped posture with his hips, spine and ribs visible (Image: RSPCA)

Newcastle Magistrates Court heard RSPCA Inspector Rachael Hurst was called to the home on May 23 after a report to the cruelty line.

She said the hallway was piled with clutter, and a “pungent, malodorous smell” hit her as Arnot opened the door.

Inside, Tyson and Aurora ran out from the living room knocking items over.

Husky Aurora, about two, was found weighing 11.9kg, covered in faeces, crusted dirt and grease as well as with flea dirt and overlong nails (Image: RSPCA)

Inspector Hurst said: “I could see that both dogs were underweight. Tyson the German Shepherd had a sloped posture, his spine, hips and ribs were palpable and visible even through his long fur.

“Aurora the husky has short and thick fur, but her ribs and hips were easily palpable, the fur on her rear end was also thickened into clumps with urine and faeces.”

German Shepard Tyson weighed 30kg and his body condition score was 1.5 out of 9 where 4-5 is healthy. He had hair loss, live fleas overlong nails and a chronic wound on his back paw (Image: RSPCA)

Arnot admitted neither dog had been seen by a vet. Both animals were seized and taken for urgent treatment.

A vet report found Aurora weighed just 11.9kg with a body score of 2 out of 9. “The fur on her back legs and hindquarters was covered with crusted dirt faeces and grease. Flea dirt was seen in the coat. Her nails were all overlong,” it stated.

Tyson weighed 30.1kg with a body score of 1.5 out of 9. The report said he had “large numbers of live fleas” and a chronic wound on his hind paw. Both dogs drank water “enthusiastically” on arrival.

The littered home the dogs were kept in (Image: RSPCA)

The vet concluded there was “no evidence of any medical condition” and said inadequate feeding was the most likely cause, estimating they had suffered for at least three months.

Tyson and Aurora have since been rehomed.

Rachael Hurst said: “It’s always very sad to see pets who are in desperate need of medical care being left in circumstances such as this and we would urge anyone who is struggling to look after their animals to seek help and support when their pet first needs help.”

Both defendants received a 12-month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work and 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days.

They have been banned from keep animals for ten years each.

They must also pay £560 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.