A couple have been banned from keeping animals for life after treating their dog so badly it had two-inch long growths coming out of its PAWS.
Jess the American Bulldog was suffering from entropion, where the eyelids fold inwards, a facial abscess and ear and skin infections.
And she could hardly walk because of the thickening of the pads on her paws, which resulted in thick horny growths of sticking out.
An inspector from the RSPCA said she had never seen anything like it and the tragic animal had to be put to sleep.
Her cruel owners, Vincent Lloyd, 50, and his wife Sharon, 43, appeared at Darlington Magistrates Court where they admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Jess by failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care.
The couple, from Consett, County Durham, were given 12-week prison sentences, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from keeping animals for life.
They were also ordered to pay £162.12 and an £80 victim surcharge each.
Heidi Cleaver, RSPCA inspector, said: “This poor dog was in a very sorry state and was undoubtedly suffering.
“I’ve never seen anything like the growths from the pads on her feet, which would have been obvious to anyone. She could barely walk as a result.”
“Her face was oozing puss from the infected abscess and her eyes were secreting discharge from the painful entropion.”
Insp Cleaver attended the Lloyds’ home on August 12 this year after a call from a concerned member of the public.
Jess was taken straight to a local veterinary practice and then taken into possession by police on veterinary advice.
Once under sedation, it became clear to the vet that the most humane thing to do was to put her to sleep, and that was done with the owners’ consent.
Insp Cleaver added: “Owning an animal is a luxury, it isn’t a right, and meeting the needs of the animals in your care is a responsibility, which includes providing veterinary care as and when it is needed.
“This couple failed Jess miserably, and left her miserable and suffering as a result.”
