Dog survived on water from toilet and toothpaste
A WOMAN has been banned from keeping all types of animals after her dog became severely malnourished and turned into a “walking skeleton.” Yogi, a husky-type cross, was so emaciated that the RSPCA inspector who rescued her said she was the thinnest dog she had seen alive. Ayla Gilchrist, from Heanor, kept Yogi locked in a rubbish-strewn house. Dirty nappies, litter and dog faeces covered the floor. Yogi was kept in this condition for three months and lost two-thirds of her natural body weight. Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard that
RSPCA inspector Rachel Leafe attended the property on January 6 last year. In a statement she said: “She was walking but looked very weak and unsteady on her legs. I could visibly see, despite the thick fur, that the dog was grossly underweight. The outline of every rib could be seen through the fur, as could the spine and hip bones. The dog’s face was sunken in. “Her stomach was so sucked in that it looked like somebody could easily wrap their hands around her waist. “I could not see any food or water. I was very concerned that if the dog was to be left any longer she may not survive.” Rachel called Derbyshire police to gain access to the property and carried Yogi to safety. She said: “She looked like a walking skeleton and I had never felt a dog this thin that was still alive in all my life and career as an RSPCA inspector.” There was no food or water. All that was found were empty dog food tins and a tube of toothpaste, which had been ripped apart and chewed. Yogi was rushed to a vets, where they discovered she was microchipped and registered to Gilchrist. A vet who examined Yogi said: “The only reason she perhaps stayed alive as long as she did was because she was able to access the water in a downstairs toilet. The dog was caused an unimaginable degree of suffering for a period of at least two months.” Yogi has been rehomed with new owners and renamed Honey. Gilchrist pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences after she admitted leaving Yogi alone in a house in Egreaves Avenue, Loscoe, Heanor, with no food. As well as a ban on keeping animals, she was given an eight-week sentence, suspended for 12 months for each of her offences. She was also ordered to pay £200 costs and a victim surcharge of £128. In mitigation the court hearing, on March 8, was told she had left the property and was worried about returning.