Canine also developed skin issues because of incontinence. An owner from South Wales who failed to seek vet treatment for his disabled dog’s leg injury has been banned from keeping animals for 18 months after a prosecution by the RSPCA.
David Tasker left the open wound on his terrier cross Benji’s back leg fester for at least a year, according to a vet’s report. The dog also developed skin issues which were triggered by incontinence. His health was so poor that a vet decided the kindest course of action was to put him to sleep.
Tasker, (D.O.B 9/12/1966), of Henry Street, Bargoed, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and appeared for sentencing at Merthyr Magistrates’ Court on April 8 where as well as the disqualification he was placed under a 12-month community order which requires him to complete 10 Rehabilitation Activity (RAR) days. He also received a £120 fine.
RSPCA Inspector Sophie Daniels investigated the case after the animal charity received a report there was a dog with “wounds and maggots”. In a statement presented to the court the inspector said that when she attended at the defendant’s home on July 18 last year Benji’s health was poor. One of his hind legs was bandaged up and he had suffered hair loss over his back and rump with raised nodules of skin all over his belly.
“As I got closer to the dog there was an overwhelming smell of urine and the skin all over the underside of the dog was wet. There was a makeshift bandage on the left hind leg, which looked to be wrapped in parcel tape which the defendant said he had put on,” said the inspector.
Tasker told the officer Benji had been diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease before he took on his ownership, so he would take him on walks in a wheeled dog cart. But the canine was incontinent as a result of his paralysis and although the defendant claimed he washed him daily he had resorted to a human mouthwash to treat an infestation of maggots which had flared up during a spell of hot weather. The inspector took Benji to the RSPCA Merthyr Clinic where his bandage was removed to reveal an open flesh wound to the outside of the left hind foot as well as other small pressure ulcers.
“Benji had a long open flesh wound with white showing in the middle. I could not tell if this was bone or tendon, but the wound was large and deep in the centre and the hock joint was very moveable as though broken,” added the inspector.
The vet who conducted euthanasia said that the dog’s urine-soaked skin had produced nodules and some were ulcerated. The dog’s left hind limb was heavily swollen and the 7cm long wound had bone sticking out at the ankle joint. (TW: Graphic image of wound)
“The joint was totally disrupted with no stability and some bony structures missing, which was due to chronic infection destroying the bones after the wound became deep enough to expose them. The wound had been present for over a year and although it was trying to heal at that stage it was unlikely ever to do so due to ongoing damage. A reasonable owner should have sought veterinary attention,” stated the vet. (TW: Graphic Image)
The court heard mitigating factors for the defendant were that he suffers from mental health and alcohol dependency issues and has financial difficulties. Tasker was also told to pay court costs of £400 and a victim surcharge of £400.
Speaking after the hearing, Inspector Daniels said: “Because of his spinal disease Benji needed a lot of care, but the defendant took it on himself to treat his skin issues and the wound on his hind leg when he should have gone straight to a vets before his condition deteriorated.”
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