Two dogs, who were found starved to death, were so hungry they ate a KETTLE a court heard.
Steven Hogwood, 41, the pups’ owner, was jailed and banned from keeping animals for life, after pleading guilty to causing the animals unnecessary suffering.
The American bulldogs were found starved in a flat on April, 12 last year – but vets concluded they had died 13 days before.
RSPCA inspectors found the emaciated bodies of Sky, two and Kilo, four – following several complaints about the smell – living among mouldy food, rubbish, and excrement.
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The dogs had no water anywhere in the flat and the bath and sink were found bone dry with the toilet lid closed.
Preston Magistrates’ Court, Lancs., heard a post-mortem examination revealed the animals were left to starve to death – and the pooches had tried to eat a dog food tin and a kettle.
Prosecuting, Paul Ridehalgh said: “On entering the flat there was a large build up of post addressed to Mr Hogwood and a large build up of faeces and rubbish.
“There was a very strong overpowering smell of excrement, urine and stale air.”
The court heard Sarah Hayland, an RSPCA animal welfare officer, found the first dog, a female bulldog who was white with brown patches, dead in the bedroom. Next to her was mouldy food and a heavily chewed dog food tin.
The second larger male dog was found lying in an open fronted dog crate in the corner of the room.
Mr Ridehalgh added: “He was lying on ribbed and chewed bedding. There was a chewed kettle and an empty bowl nearby. There was no water. A half full tin of mouldy dog food was also found.”
Both dogs had very poor body condition with their bone structure visible and palpable and no microchip or identification, the court heard.
Hogwood claimed both dogs had become very ill over a three-day period and claimed everything had become “unbearable” when he visited the flat and found both dogs dead.
He said he could not face going back to the flat to deal with the situation.
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He claimed he used to visit the flat daily but he stopped residing there after he was subject to a curfew where he had to sleep overnight at his mother’s home.
A vet concluded they died around 13 days earlier and there had been inadequate feeding, although water may have been available.
The lack of any food in their systems indicated they received no food at all for one to three days before they died and had suffered for two to three weeks before their deaths.
Hogwood was jailed for 12 weeks and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.
