A DOG owner who left his pet suffering with chronic and severe skin disease has been banned from keeping animals for five years.
Karl Hobday, 49, of Newport Road, Caldicot, pleaded guilty to the Animal Welfare Act offence at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, December 17.
As well as the ban, he was, given a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work, and must £485 in costs and a surcharge.
The court heard in the RSPCA case that black Labrador Holly suffered with the condition over nearly two years because she wasn’t taken to a vet,
Images shown to the court showed the extent of Holly’s damaged skin – but, thankfully, the dog has made a “remarkable, heart-warming” transformation in the care of the animal charity, and been rehomed.
The RSPCA’s Sophie Daniels said: “This dog was suffering for many months with chronic conditions which left her skin so raw, sore and thickened.
“The court heard she had suffered because her owner had not sought veterinary care, which is heartbreaking and means her suffering could have been easily avoided.
“Initially, it was very difficult to even identify the breed, as the skin was in such shocking condition.
“Fortunately, Holly has undergone a remarkable, heart-warming transformation in RSPCA care.”