Dog left starving to death in dark
A dog starved to death after it was barely fed for a fortnight while being cared for by its owner's neighbour in Walsall, a court heard.
Dean Fellows had been asked to look after the Jack Russell cross breed in Leamore, but it was 'effectively starved to death'.
The 22-year-old had looked after the pet belonging to Margaret Doherty on previous occasions, feeding and walking the animal.
But between December 27 last year and January 11 this year the dog, aged three, was left to deteriorate to an emaciated state, Walsall Magistrates Court was told.
Fellows was seen taking the dog's body in a plastic bag and putting it in a barrel at the bottom of his neighbour's garden.
He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the female dog named Ruby over the fortnight period. Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the hearing the case came to light on January 11.
Fellows, of Dorsett Place, was seen placing the body of the animal into a plastic barrel. Mr Sutton said over a number of years the defendant had been asked by Mrs Doherty to look after the pet when she went away. She had provided food for a period of time and then Fellows had supplemented this. On December 27 Mrs Doherty was called to Manchester after a relative became ill and Fellows was again asked to help.
When questioned about the unnecessary suffering, he said the food had not been provided. He bought two tins of dog food but did not purchase anymore.
The hearing was told the pet was left in a downstairs toilet, in the dark with no heating. Mr Sutton said: "Effectively the animal was starved to death. The animal was found in a profound state of emaciation."
Mr Nigel Ford, defending, said his client had made full and frank admissions. Magistrates adjourned the case until July 23 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, which will not rule out custody.
