Heartbreaking pics show ‘walking skeleton’ dog Dibbley left to starve by cruel owner
SHOCKING photos show a starving dog which was so emaciated every bone in his body was visible. Dibbley weighed just under 9kg and was “one day away from death” according to vets who described the pet as a “walking skeleton”. The RSPCA were called to a property by police who had attended for an unrelated […]
SHOCKING photos show a starving dog which was so emaciated every bone in his body was visible.
Dibbley weighed just under 9kg and was “one day away from death” according to vets who described the pet as a “walking skeleton”.
The RSPCA were called to a property by police who had attended for an unrelated matter but were concerned for the well-being of a dog living in the house.
Inspector Dave McAdam could smell faeces and urine coming from the kitchen floor, which was covered in rubbish.
In the bedroom of the property in Chesterfield, Derbs., he found Dibbley, a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog, in a severely emaciated state.
He had to carry the dog, aged about nine, from the property and took him to a vet for treatment.
DOG BAN
Pet owner James Drury, 25, of Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his dog and was banned from keeping animals for ten years on October 23 this year.
He was also given an 18-month community order and placed on a “thinking skills” programme for a period of 19 days, along with a 12-day rehabilitation requirement.
In a witness statement, the vet who assessed Dibbley described him as “a walking skeleton”.
He said: “Every major bone in this dog’s body was clearly prominent and evident, he was literally a walking skeleton.
‘A DAY FROM DEATH’
“This was amongst the worst cases of emaciation I have ever seen, this dog was no more than a day or so away from death.”
At the time of his rescue, Dibbley weighed just under 9kgs but was put on a specialist diet and within six weeks he weighed just over 20kgs.
Dibbley is currently in RSPCA care and he will be re-homed soon.
In mitigation, the court was told that Drury was suffering from stress at the time and financial hardship.
This was amongst the most emaciated dogs I have ever seen that was still alive
RSPCA Inspector, Dave McAdam
As well as the 10-year ban on keeping all animals, Drury was given an 18-month community order.
He was also ordered to be placed on a “thinking skills” programme for a period of 19 days, along with a 12-day rehabilitation requirement.
In addition, Drury was fined £200, ordered to pay £400 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.
Speaking after the hearing, inspector McAdam said: “This was amongst the most emaciated dogs I have ever seen that was still alive.
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“The dog was so weak he had trouble walking due to the loss of muscle mass, with experience of nearly thirty years as an RSPCA inspector I knew this dog was close to death.
“There was again a large amount of faeces on the bedroom floor where the dog was being kept.
“Within the bedroom, I did see a small amount of water in a steel bowl provided for the dog, but no food.”
