A WOMAN dog owner and a farmer have been banned from keeping animnals in two separate cruelty cases.

Zoe Powell of Ruardean was banned from owning cats and dogs indefinitely, after Cheltenham magistrates heard her dog Beethoven was covered in pressure sores caused by a lack of food.

And in another case last week, farmer Leon Anthony Davies, 53, of Ardquin, Phocle Green near Ross-on-Wye, received the same penalty for keeping sheep, after failing to care properly for animals with fly strike that were so badly infected with maggots they had to be put down by a vet.

He was also ordered to pay £3,335 in fines and costs by Hereford magistrates, while dog owner Powell must pay £787 in financial penalties.

The indefinite bans are for a minimum of five years, but could be maintained for life.

Powell’s American Bulldog Beethoven hadn’t been fed properly, Cheltenham magistrates were told, and the sores on his body and in his ears were a result of lack of muscle and body fat when the animal lay down.

Powell admitted causing unnecessary suffering when she appeared before magistrates on Monday (March 11).

The prosecution was brought by the Forest Council’s street warden team with the council’s counter fraud unit after Beethoven was found straying in the local area in February 2018.

Officers noticed that he appeared underweight with sore patches, and a vet confirmed he was under weight for a dog of his size and breed.

The vet’s report said there was no medical cause for the weight loss, and the only conclusion was that his condition was due to a lack of nutrition, the court heard, causing pressure sores.

Powell, who told investigators she had suffered financial difficulties, agreed to sign over Beethoven who has since been rehomed and is now fully recovered.

As well as being banned, she was told to pay £712.50 costs, a £45 fine and a £30 victim surcharge.

In a separate case, Davies pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 5, to failing to provide suitable care and treatment for five sheep with fly strike at his farm beside the M50.

He also admitted docking the tails of 29 sheep that were too old.

Herefordshire Council’s Animal Health Team took the case to court after an animal health inspector found animals suffering fly strike caused by parasitic flies laying eggs on them.

Maggots which had hatched from the eggs had burrowed into the flesh of the sheep, and a vet had to be called to put down five animals on welfare grounds due to the severe level of infestation and suffering.

When Davies was revisited at his farm, it was found that he had applied rubber rings to the tails of 29 lambs who were months old – a procedure that should only be carried out on a lamb aged no more than seven days old.

A deprivation order was imposed on Da-vies’ remaining sheep to be disposed of within 28 days.

As well as being banned from keeping sheep indefinitely, he was fined £1,700, with a victim surcharge of £130 and costs of £1,415.38.

Marc Willimont, the council’s regulatory, environment and waste acting assistant director, said: “This is a very serious case of animal suffering and the lack of correct care and treatment of the sheep was deplorable.

“The council will not tolerate this kind of animal suffering, and we will endeavour to work with all livestock keepers to ensure that best practice is maintained on farms and small holdings.”

Responding to the dog cruelty case, Forest Council leader, Cllr Tim Gwilliam, said: “I would like to thank our local street wardens for acting quickly to save Beethoven

from neglect.

“As a council we take animal welfare seriously and this case is an example of how we will take action where we can.

“I’m pleased that the court ordered that Miss Powell should be disqualified from keeping or looking after any dogs for at least the next five years.”