A Blaenavon man has been handed a 12 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months, after neglecting his shih tzu – who was found in such a suffering state he was unable to move.
David Powell (d.o.b 17/04/1967) of James Street, Blaenavon, faced two offences under the Animal Welfare Act in that between July and September 2021 he caused unnecessary suffering to dog Alfie, by failing to carry out the necessary veterinary care and attention for his corneal ulceration, skin disease, anal tumours and skin wounds.
The second offence he faced was that he failed to meet the needs of Alfie in respect to one or a combination of the following – approproate body condition, need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease due to a lack of treatment for skin disease, corneal ulcer, anal tumours, causes of anaemia, skin wounds and for his collapsed state. He pleaded guilty to both offences at a hearing at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court in March.
His ex-partner Kate Powell (d.o.b 22/12/1971) of Lower Hill Street, Blaenavon, also faced the two same offences and also pleaded guilty to them both in March. She was sentenced on 17 March and magistrates handed her a five-year disqualification of keeping dogs and was ordered to pay an £800 fine (including victim surcharge).
On Thursday 7 April, at Newport Magistrates’ Court, David Powell was handed a suspended sentence order of 12 weeks of custody suspended for 12 months along with 90 hours unpaid work. He was disqualified from keeping dogs for seven years and was ordered to pay a total sum of £378 (including victim surcharge).
The court had previously heard through witness statements that RSPCA inspector David Milborrow attended James Street, Bleanavon on 7 September 2021 and met with Kate Powell who said that she had heard that Alfie was not in a good way.
Her dogs Marley and Alfie were living at the James Street property with her ex-husband and she had not been to the house or seen the dogs for about a year.
Inside, Inspector Milborrow saw Marley, a male, brindle Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross breed dog, who was found to be in a good condition and appeared healthy.
Inspector Milborrow was then shown 14-year-old Shih Tzu, Alfie who was lying flat on its side on a dog bed at the end of the sofa.
“The dog had significant fur loss on his legs, head and flanks,” he said. “The fur that he did have would have been pale or white if it were clean, however it was filthy, wet and matted.
“The patches of skin that I could see were red and sore looking with small open and pussy wounds. His legs were twitching slightly but he did not appear able to move or even lift his head.”
Inspector Milborrow told Kate Powell that he needed to get Alfie to a vet immediately. She gave permission for this, with Inspector Milborrow stating she was “extremely upset and crying uncontrollably”.
An independent emergency vet sadly confirmed that Alfie was suffering and there was no treatment that could be prescribed and recommended he should be put to sleep immediately to prevent any further suffering. Kate Powell gave permission for this to happen.
The vet said in a witness statement: “In my opinion there has been significant neglect over a long period of time, both in overall condition and care of the dog, but also disregard for more serious illness which needed urgent attention.”
The other dog Marley was taken into RSPCA care to be rehomed.
