Pictures of dog thrown into canal in binbag in Brierfield

Maddie, an elderly terrier-type dog, was rescued from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Clitheroe Road last August after being tied in a black bin liner and thrown into the water.

But despite initially surviving, the charity said her condition worsened in the days that followed, and she was euthanised by a vet to prevent further suffering.

Terrence and Sadie Boyd (Image: Social Media)

Terrence Boyd, 34, and Sadie Boyd, 32, of Walter Street, Brierfield, were sentenced at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (June 24) after admitting two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

As previously reported by the Lancashire Telegraph, the pair were each given eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Images released by the RSPCA show Maddie following her rescue, as well as some of the kittens found at the couple’s home.

The court heard a dog walker saw the pair throw a bin liner into the canal on August 27 last year and was told it contained clothes.

Maddie was rescued from the canal but sadly later died (Image: RSPCA)

However, the bag began to move before Maddie’s head emerged, prompting a member of the public to enter the water in an attempt to save her.

Emergency services were called, and she was pulled from the canal by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service before being taken to a veterinary practice.

In evidence presented to the court, the vet who treated Maddie said she was hypothermic, with a temperature of 33.2°C, and was “severely malnourished” with significant muscle loss.

She was also found to have severe dental disease and multiple puncture wounds to her neck.

One of the seven kittens that was rescued from the Boyd’s home (Image: RSPCA)

Her condition failed to improve and, two days later, she began to struggle to walk and developed neurological symptoms. A decision was made to put her to sleep on welfare grounds.

The RSPCA investigation also uncovered poor conditions at the couple’s home.

Seven kittens were removed from the property, all of which were underweight, with some described as urine-soaked. Four were hypothermic and required warming.

One kitten, weighing just 735 grams, was in such a poor condition it had to be euthanised.

Magistrates heard the house was unsanitary, with large amounts of animal faeces and mice present in the kitchen.

CCTV gathered by the RSPCA showed the pair carrying a black bag along Walter Street at around 9.05am before heading towards the canal. Footage later showed them leaving the area and running away.

Maddie was tied up in a plastic bag and thrown into the canal in Brierfield (Image: RSPCA)

In interview, both defendants largely gave no comment, with Sadie Boyd denying being at the canal that morning.

Speaking after the case, RSPCA Chief Inspector Kelly Nix said: “What happened to Maddie was horrifying, and this incident was understandably the cause of great distress to people who were at the scene, the emergency services and the wider local community.

“It was heartbreaking that Maddie’s condition deteriorated and she ultimately could not be saved.”

A corn snake found at the address, which had been kept without heating or suitable lighting, was taken into specialist care. The surviving kittens have since been rehomed.