Mia left to suffer months of agony
Reporter: Jennifer Hollamby
Date published: 11 December 2008
A WOMAN whose pet had to be put down because she failed to take it to the vets when it had a bone tumour, has been banned from keeping dogs for two years.
Natalie Warburton (31), of Leamington Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty at Oldham Magistrates Court to causing the dog unnecessary suffering.
The court heard that seven-year-old Mia was so ill, it couldn’t use its front right leg and had to limp around on its remaining three legs.
By the time the RSPCA discovered Mia’s ordeal on June 4, it was found to have extensive muscle wasting in its leg and shoulder and an aggravated bone tumour.
Mia’s claws had also grown so long that some of them had started to grow into its pads and it had dermatitis and inflammation.
Mia was also very lean, and vets said that this could be either because of an inadequate diet or because of her illness.
The vet assessed that Mia had probably been suffering for several months and she was so poorly that a decision was taken to put her down the same day.
Defending, Rebecca Clarke said that Warburton had arranged for friends to give her a lift to the vet on four separate occasions, but the friends had not turned up.
She had also phoned a number of taxi firms, but they had all refused to take the dog and Mia was too ill to be taken anywhere on a bus.
Warburton had also taken out a pet insurance policy, but she had missed one payment and the contract was terminated.
Miss Clarke said: “Ms Warburton also has some cats, which were described by the RSPCA as being in good health, and she has since been looking after a friend’s dog, Shadow, and there are no concerns for its health. Having kept pets successfully for a number of years, it is clear that this was a one off incident and one which has upset Ms Warburton greatly.”
Chairman of the bench, George Steele, gave Warburton a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £228 towards vet fees.
He said: “We have seen the pictures and have looked at the evidence and our feelings are with the dog. Having said that, this wasn’t a case involving wilful cruelty, but more a case where because of your limited finances, neglect was caused to the dog.”
Mr Steele also demanded that, in keeping with the ban on keeping dogs, Shadow is put into someone else’s care within seven days.
The RSPCA officer involved in the case, Miss Susie Micallef, said: “We are pleased with the verdict and that Mia’s suffering finally came to an end when we got involved.”
