Banned from owning dogs, man whose pets were too fat to walk
A PET owner whose two dogs became so fat they could not walk after being fed cheese and rice pudding for three years has been banned from keeping animals.
Martin Harrison, 58, let Staffordshire bull terriers Brucie and Lucy become so overweight they were barrel-shaped and buckled under their sheer size.
Although he blamed his late mother for the diet and over-feeding the dogs, he confessed to occasionally spoiling them with cakes and doggy treats.
The dogs were panting heavily and laid down in the vets’ consulting room after being seized by RSPCA inspectors.
During the time Harrison owned the dogs, Brucie’s weight ballooned from a healthy 46lb to 82lb. Lucy’s weight increased to 75lb and she had a chronic ear condition that was not treated.
Since they were seized last March, the animals were put on a diet and now weigh about 50lb each. Lucy has also had surgery to help her ear.
Both dogs have been permanently confiscated from Harrison, of Christchurch, Dorset, by Poole magistrates.
He was fined £150 and ordered to pay £130 in costs and a surcharge. He has been disqualified from owning or keeping animals for two years after being convicted of two counts of causing unnecessary suffering and one of failing to provide veterinary care.
Jeremy Lake, prosecuting, said: “Both dogs were grossly obese and barrel-like. Lucy had a chronic ear disease which caused suffering in the dog that a responsible and competent owner would not have allowed.”
Alerted
The court heard that Harrison, who lived with his mother, bought Brucie and Lucy on Gumtree in November 2014.
The RSPCA was first alerted to their condition after a tip-off from a member of the public and Harrison was visited by an inspector and given advice on how to reduce their weight.
However, when he was visited again, the inspector found Brucie and Lucy had got even heavier.
He was given a final warning by the RSPCA and two months later they were seized under the Animal Welfare Act.
RSPCA inspector Tina Ward said: “Both dogs were grossly overweight and it was going to do long-term damage to their health.
“Now, they are lovely dogs full of energy who love to run around and play ball.”
Defending himself, Harrison said that his late mother, who had Alzheimer’s, would feed the dogs cheese and rice pudding despite him repeatedly asking her not to.
He said he could not afford to take Lucy to the vet because his benefits had been stopped.
Harrison added: children.
“I miss them like crazy and just want them back. I’ve got no one else.” “My dogs are my A slimmer Brucie, above, and Lucy, left. Owner Harrison, top, said his pets were his children, he missed them like crazy and just wanted them back