Furious protesters forced a feckless Bolton pet owner to flee a courthouse after his Lurcher dog was starved so badly she looked like a ‘concentration camp’ victim.
David Lowe, 33, neglected 15-year-old Fly over several weeks until the animal was less than half her normal body weight.
By the time she was rescued, Fly was just skin and bone and barely breathing with a vet who examined her saying she was like a ‘walking skeleton’.
The tan coloured Lurcher was left so badly emaciated from her ordeal she had to be put to sleep.
Lowe of Farnworth, near Bolton, Greater Manchester, later claimed he had money troubles and blamed his ex-girlfriend for failing to feed Fly.
But at Bolton magistrates court he had to face a crowd of demonstrators from across the UK who raised a 20,000 name petition calling for him to be jailed.
JPs said Lowe’s behaviour passed ‘the custody threshold’ but suspended the 12 week sentence for 18 months due to his ‘remorse’.
CRUEL: Fly was less that half her normal bodyweight when rescued
He was banned from keeping animals for life and will only be able to appeal against the order in 25-years-time.
Police were called to patrol the demonstration during which Lowe scampered away with his face covered, though the protest was peaceful and no arrests were made.
After the case, Lorraine Edwards, 41, who runs a Lurcher Rescue centre in Herts said: ”All we wanted was justice for Fly but the current justice system is not doing enough. This man should have gone to jail because he a let dog die.
”The maximum sentence he could have faced was six months but people should get a lot more than that for neglecting animals in this way. What happened to him is a normal example of the courts being lenient to animal cruelty cases.
”There was just no need to let a dog starve and this case has really pulled on the heart strings of people. We feel very passionately about it because the courts are so lenient.
“Because Fly is no longer around we have to make a stand for her by being the voice for her to let the magistrates know this case is totally unacceptable when there’s so many people who can help. It’s disgusting.”
Another protestor said: ”He starved that dog so much she looked like something out of a concentration camp. The fact he went free from court is outrageous.”
Earlier Tony Stock, prosecuting, said the investigation began in October last year after RSPCA Inspector, Vicki McDonald went to Lowe’s flat and saw Fly lying down in its basket by the side of the kitchen.
Mr Stock added: ”She was immediately shocked by how emaciated the dog was. The defendant confirmed the dog was his but said his former partner had been responsible for the dog as well.
”He went on to tell the inspector that his ex, as he called her, had asked him to put the dog down but he did not want to do that. He added that he was surprised the dog had lasted as long as it had.
CHEATING DEATH: The vet said Fly was like a ‘walking skeleton’
“He said that Fly had last seen the vet a few months ago. He went on to tell the inspector that the dog had only got so bad in the last couple of weeks and attributed most of the dog’s problems to the fact she was old.”
But vet Angus McKenzie said in a statement he felt Fly was ‘the most severely emaciated dog dead or alive that he had ever seen in the 30 years he had been in practice’.
The dog was 12-15% dehydrated and weighed just 8.1kg which is less than half her ideal body weight.
The dehydrated dog was diabetic, had overgrown claws, signs of a tooth abscess, a mammary tumour, and severe advanced dental disease.
Mr Stock added: ”Fly was is a dog severely emaciated and the photographs show the quite graphically.
”Given the number and severity of the issues affecting Fly – all of which could have been treated – it was Mr McKenzie’s feeling that the only humane action was to put her to sleep.
”The dog suffered immeasurably which the vet described as the totally neglect of the defendant. The vet called Fly ‘a walking skeleton.’
“In his opinion that suffering could have been alleviated at an earlier stage. That dog could have lived a healthy life if advice and treatment had been sought.”
Insp McDonald went to interview Lowe but he claimed he had not ‘committed any offence’.
The court heard he had been given £20 to take his dog to the vets when she became so poorly but he failed to do so as he feared it would be put down.
HEARTBREAKING: The RSPCA Inspector said It was hard to believe Fly was still alive
He was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering at an earlier hearing.
In mitigation Lowe’s lawyer Peter Leather said his client had mental problems and claimed Fly became neglected when he split up with his girlfriend and was left homeless.
Mr Leather said: ”He said ‘I could not take Fly with me because I was on the streets’.
“This is of some significance because it was not the defendant in charge and control of the dog. He was in a delicate state of mind and in a depressive period.
”There is little doubt he is a vulnerable person and he is hardly going to thrive in prison before. He is likely to be picked upon. You have read about threats he has received because of the proceedings.”
Passing sentence JP Dr Derek Tate said: ”The custodial threshold has been crossed but we are going to suspend the sentence. This is clearly because we believe a rehabilitative element would be more appropriate in your case.”
Lowe will be ordered to pay 1,000 costs and an 80 victim surcharge at the rate of ten pounds a week.
The vets fees of £528 will be paid by the taxpayer.
RSPCA inspector Ms McDonald said after the case: “This is the most serious case of malnutrition I have ever seen.
“It was hard to believe that she was still alive. Individually each condition could have been treated but together it was kinder to put her to sleep.
“I understand that it’s that difficult to let go of a dog you have had for years but you can’t leave them to get into this state. It is unacceptable and heartbreaking.”
Story via Cavendish Press
All images courtesy of the RSPCA, with thanks.
