A 24-YEAR-OLD Dunstable man has been banned from keeping animals for three years after admitting not feeding his three dogs properly or seeking veterinary treatment when needed, due to a lack of money.
Ben Inwood, of Mountview Avenue, appeared at Luton Magistrates Court charged with causing unnecessary suffering to three cross-breed dogs – called Buster, Porche and Precious.
The court heard on Friday that RSPCA inspector Peter Warne had visited Inwood’s home in June and was concerned at the state of the three pets.
Buster was very thin and his pin bones – in the hip area – were visible at the top of his back legs.
Porche had rib and pelvic bones visible and Precious was “in an emaciated state”, the court was told.
Insp Warne insisted that the dogs should see a veterinary specialist immediately and all three dogs were described as thin or very thin.
Inwood told the court that he didn’t have enough money to feed the dogs properly.
He said: “If I had the money I would have taken them to the vet. I didn’t like seeing them like that.”
Judge Gareth Bramston banned Inwood from owning or keeping animals for three years and gave him a community penalty to be supervised by the probation service for 12 months.
He said: “You failed entirely to care properly for these dogs.
“As a result, they would have suffered – I have no doubt – unnecessarily.
“I don’t make any judgement about you being malicious towards those dogs but your care was inadequate.”
Inwood also faced one dangerous dog charge after one of his canines bit a 55-year-old woman in the street.
All three dogs were signed over to the RSPCA on October 17 and are now in the process of being rehomed.
Insp Warne told the Gazette: “You take on an animal and you take on a responsibility of care.
“The animal cannot care for itself. It relies on its owner so it is important that owners take their responsibility seriously.
“The disqualification is important for us. It is what I aim for to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”