Neglected dog put down after being found living in squalor in Lancashire

A woman has been banned from keeping dogs for five years after allowing her dog to live in such appalling conditions he had to be put down.

RSPCA inspectors were forced to act after discovering the German Shepherd called Storm living in a squalid outhouse in Blackpool.

The 13-year-old may have lost his hearing due to the neglect and was suffering from skin infection, arthritis and poor eyesight.

Helen Tracy Shaw, 50, of Romney Avenue, Blackpool appeared at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court to be sentenced after pleading guilty at to one offence under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.

In addition to the five year disqualification from keeping dogs, she was sentenced to an 18-month community order to include a 40-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a six-week curfew. She was ordered to pay £250 in costs and a £80 victim surcharge.

RSPCA Inspector William Lamping, who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity visited the property in Romney Avenue on February 18, 2020.

He found Storm had extensive fur loss across most of his body with his exposed skin reddened, scabby and flaky.

The dog’s left ear appeared damaged with a black substance oozing from it and Storm regularly scratched at his head, seeming to be very itchy. The fur Storm did have left was heavily matted into solid blocks and was dark brown in colour.

Insp Lamping said: “Storm was kept in an outbuilding that was unsuitable for him, mostly consisting of a hard floor that was soiled with faeces and old dog food.

“His bedding appeared rotten to the point I could not distinguish whether it was a towel or some other material, it looked sodden. There was very little natural light inside the building and when the door was closed I imagine there was no light at all.”

Storm was taken to a vet for examination where it was found he had an ear infection in both ears. He did not react to any sounds suggesting he was deaf, likely due to the ear infection.

He was also suffering from a skin infection with his skin being inflamed and scabby with wounds. The vet also suspected Storm had arthritis and poor eyesight. Vets felt Storm was suffering to such an extent that the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep to prevent him suffering anymore.

Following the hearing Insp Lamping added: “There is no excuse for allowing any pet to get into the state Storm was in. There is always help available for those people who need it and we encourage people to seek out this help to prevent animals suffering.”