Bella and Fudge were rescued from a Darlington home after being found severely underweight and neglected by their owners.
A vet examined them and confirmed they suffered due to the neglect, which lasted for weeks in a Darlington house on Selby Crescent.
Jonathan Cartwright, 29, and Kimberley O’Neill, 37, were prosecuted by the RSPCA at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court. As a result, they cannot own dogs for ten years and received community orders.
After being rescued, Bella and Fudge gained weight, increasing by over 50% of their body weight. Now, they have been adopted by kind people.
An RSPCA inspector, Clare Wilson, visited their house last year after receiving reports that the dogs were malnourished. She saw the dogs in the back garden and noted the yard was very messy.
Sewage was on the ground near the house, and scrap metal and rubbish were everywhere. The dogs had no clean bedding to sleep on, and their bowls were empty and turned over, lacking both food and water.
The inspector could clearly see all of Fudge’s bones, and Bella’s bones were visible through her fur, highlighting their severe malnourishment.
The inspector warned the owners about the dogs’ condition and insisted a vet needed to examine them soon. Cartwright claimed a family member had taken them before, but he could not recall when or where.
The dogs displayed extreme thirst and drank a lot of water when the vet offered it to them, indicating severe dehydration.
The vet determined that Fudge only weighed thirteen kilograms, while he should have weighed over twenty-five. Bella weighed ten kilograms, far below her ideal weight of over eighteen kilograms.
The vet concluded that the owners caused unnecessary suffering by not providing enough food, and this suffering lasted for at least a month.
The dogs began on strict feeding plans, and Fudge gained weight rapidly, reaching twenty kilograms by June. Bella also gained a significant amount and weighed sixteen kilograms.
The RSPCA paid for the dogs to be spayed and neutered. Bella had a bad tooth extracted, and the RSPCA cared for both dogs until suitable adoption arrangements were made.
Cartwright and O’Neill pleaded guilty in court on January 22, admitting to causing the dogs unnecessary suffering by failing to provide enough food between April and May. They also acknowledged failing to meet the dogs’ needs fully before May 17th.
Inspector Wilson expressed her happiness that Bella and Fudge recovered. She urged people to consider an animal’s needs and ensure they can consistently provide proper care.
Cartwright received an 18-month community order, requiring him to complete eighty hours of unpaid work. He must also cover costs and pay a victim surcharge.
O’Neill received a 12-month community order and must also perform unpaid work, pay costs, and a surcharge. The court acknowledged that they faced financial and family issues during the period of neglect.