Cannabis inhalation masked Misty’s pain

Nathan Sinnitt outside North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court; right, his dog Misty

A DOG owner has avoided jail after he masked his pet’s extreme pain with second-hand cannabis smoke inhalation instead of taking her to the vets. Misty, a Mastiff-type animal, was seized after police raided the home of Nathan Sinnitt in relation to a suspected drugs farm.

A court heard officers found the pet calm but unable to stand or walk properly.

When questioned, Sinnitt and his partner admitted Misty hadn’t left the house in more than eight months because of her mobility issues. RSPCA officers were called and the dog was taken to a vets but, less than 12 hours later, she had to be put to sleep, prosecutors said.

The vet confirmed Misty had first appeared calm because of the effects of cannabis inhalation but those effects soon wore off, the court heard.

Sinnett, of Victoria Avenue, Wallsend, was due before magistrates in North Tyneside last week but failed to show.

He was found guilty in absence of causing unnecessary to an animal and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

But the 30-year-old handed himself in to police on Tuesday and he appeared in the dock to be sentenced the same day.

Stewart Haywood, prosecuting, told magistrates that police raided Sinnitt’s home on August 12 this year before calling in the RSPCA on discovering Misty.

“Inspectors attended and saw Misty,” he said. “Misty was sitting and, at the time she went to get up, she was very unsteady and struggling to put weight on her front legs and her back legs were unco-ordinated. She fell a number of times.”

Misty was taken to the vet, who noted she was also struggling with pressure sores. It was revealed Sinnitt was entitled to PDSA treatment and lived 200 yards from a vet.

Mr Haywood said: “It appears in this case the defendant couldn’t be bothered to walk the short distance to take Misty to a vet and, instead, decided to take on a criminal lifestyle and grow and smoke cannabis.”

The court heard Sinnitt’s partner also failed to attend a court hearing last week and the case was also proved in absence against her.

A warrant was also issued for her arrest and is still outstanding.

Mark Harrison, defending, said Sinnitt hadn’t deliberately been cruel to Misty and said he was thoroughly ashamed, embarrassed and upset as the dog was initially bought for him to help with his mental health.

Sinnitt was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was banned from keeping animals for five years.