A Newport man has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a British bulldog after failing to treat her skin condition which severely affected her head, ears and eyes.
Christopher O’Flaherty of Oliphant Circle, Newport, was given six weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, after he pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences at Cwmbran Magistrates Court on Wednesday (2 February) following a prosecution by RSPCA Cymru.
The court heard he had caused unnecessary suffering to Princess – a white and brown British bulldog – by failing to provide veterinary care in respect of her severe skin disease, which was affecting her head, ears and eyes, and also that he did not provide treatment to protect her from pain, suffering, injury or disease.
RSPCA deputy chief inspector Emma Smith said Princess had been handed into a RSPCA centre on 26 November 2019 by a family member of O’Flaherty who allegedly said that they found her up a mountain.
She was initially thought to be a stray and was immediately taken to a vet due to her poor body condition. She was then taken into the care of Newport City Council and given immediate treatment.
Inspector Smith said: “Princess was found to be in a dire situation. At the vets a clinical examination found multiple abnormalities, most notably severe skin disease of the head, eyes and ears. The vets found that Princess only weighed 16.2kg (35.7lb), and she looked thin. She also had soft tissue swelling in her eyes, which was causing her to be functionally blind.”
Following investigations by the RSPCA it was discovered that O’Flaherty was the owner of Princess. Looking at vet records the animal welfare charity found she had not received any treatment for her condition.
Thankfully in the local authority’s care, Princess responded well to treatment and was taken to a foster home specialising in the breed.
“Princess was clearly neglected by her owner and should have just been given veterinary treatment as soon as he had spotted her health issues,” added inspector Smith. “Instead she was left to unnecessarily suffer.
“We are so pleased Princess was able to get the treatment she so desperately needed and we would like to thank the local authority for helping give Princess a second chance of happiness.”
O’Flaherty, who no longer owns any animals, was also banned from keeping dogs for two years and ordered to pay £150 in costs.
