Pontefract woman who allowed poorly dog to go untreated is banned from keeping animals

A Pontefract woman has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after allowing a dog to suffer.
Max is to now be rehomed.Max is to now be rehomed.
Max is to now be rehomed.

An officer from the RSPCA were alerted to Max, a Dalmation, owned by 34-year-old Amy Woodhouse, last year when they found had an infected ear, which was oozing yellow pus-like liquid and was clearly in pain.

Woodhouse, of Holmfield Close, was advised that Max needed a vet and she agreed to make arrangements.

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RSPCA inspector Kris Walker said: “A little over a month later I spoke to her on the phone and she said she had only just got the money together to take Max to the vets and that he was booked in for the next day.

“I spoke to her again a few days later and was told he’d been given some medication and needed to go back in another seven days so I stressed again how important it was that he go.

“I tried to reach her on the phone after that and got no reply and when I contacted the vets was told she hadn’t returned with Max so I went back to the property to check on him, however his owner wouldn’t let me in.

“I attended with police on the following day, 13th July, almost two months since I’d first seen Max. He was crying as soon as I touched his ear, it was swollen, smelled strongly and appeared yellow and thickened. He was scratching and shaking his head. His owner gave permission for me to take him to the vets where his ears were causing him so much pain that I couldn’t get photos of inside them as it was just too much for him.”

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Max was taken into possession by police on veterinary advice and kept at the vets overnight for treatment.

Appearing before Leeds Magistrates’ Court, Woodhouse admitted three offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

In mitigation, the court heard that the defendant recognised that she was failing to cope but at least made one attempt to take the dog to the vets.

As well as the disqualification, she was sentenced to a 12-month community order including 20 rehabilitation activity days and ordered to pay £85 victim surcharge.

A deprivation order was placed on Max who will now pass into RSPCA care for rehoming.