RSPCA "ordered" pensioner to exhume his pet dog
RSPCA officers ordered a pensioner to dig up his dead dog after claims he had not being caring for it.
Dennis Gordon Rogers buried the animal in the garden of his home in Sunderland after it died, city magistrates heard.
But RSPCA officers ordered the 73-year-old to dig up the dog so they could investigate a complaint by neighbours.
Prosecuting for the animal charity, Judith Curry said a vet examined the tan bull mastiff, which had been dead for about two days.
They found it was very underweight and had pieces of wood in its stomach – one measuring 2x2.5cm.
Mrs Curry said a normal weight for the breed would be 45-55kg, but it weighed just 28kg and its ribs and backbones were sticking out.
Rogers admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering by not taking the sick dog to a vet.
He told RSPCA officials it was a "walking skeleton" when he got it from a man in Hendon. Rogers had the dog for about four months and said he fed it the same as his other dog, also a bull mastiff, but it failed to put on weight. Mitigating, Tony Southwick said Rogers had been a loving dog owner for 13 years and gone to the pet stall in Jacky White's Market for advice, but did not contact a vet. Magistrates fined the pensioner £165, with a £15 victim surcharge and £125 to be paid towards RSPCA investigation fees.
He was banned from keeping animals for two years, other than his racing pigeons. Rogers, Told the court his surviving dog Tara would be re-homed with his son
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/RSPCA-ordered-pensioner-to-exhume.5495874.jp
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