CONVICTED (2019) | David Morris, born c. 1968, and Susan Morris, born c. 1965, both of Southland Court, Grimsby DN37 9LL – left their flea-riddled Shih-Tzu dog to suffer with matted fur, skin and eye problems

David and Susan Morris denied three offences of causing unnecessary suffering to the nine-year-old male dog, named Fifi, but were convicted after a trial.

Fifi was riddled with fleas and had badly matted fur as well as skin and eye problems.

The court heard that matting would have stopped him from being able to scratch properly and he would have been in a lot of pain. It was estimated that he had had fleas for two years.

The couple said they could not afford the cost of veterinary treatment so simply left the dog to suffer.

In a tragic twist, Fifi later had to be put down due to another problem.

Gordon Holt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told Grimsby magistrates that an inspector visited the couple’s home on January 27, 2018, and examined Fifi.

Mr Holt said: “There was clear evidence that there was suffering to this animal and it had been going on for some time.”

Fifi was taken to the Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Grimsby , where a vet clipped him “from head to toe” to get rid of the matting.

“The vet believed Fifi had been caused unnecessary suffering,” said Mr Holt.

The vet said: “I have never seen a flea infection that was so bad. Fleas were visible on every part of his body.”

Sadly, Fifi put down six months later because of a suspected central nervous problem.

David Morris later said of the dog: “I rescued him off the street. I have had him six or seven years.

“I feel we have rescued Fifi from certain death on the day I rescued him.

“I have not been cruel but possibly I have been stupid. I am bereft if my dog has suffered.”

Susan Morris claimed she did not notice the skin and eye conditions but bathed the dog sometimes for fleas.

Defence barrister Hywel Davies claimed: “There were no signs of discomfort or suffering. They were not to know.

“Nothing there warrants a trip to the vet’s.”

David Morris, a trained nurse, told the court that he found the stray dog on the streets.

Part of the reason he did not alert a vet was that he feared that Fifi would turn out to be microchipped and “would be taken back to that awful place” where he believed the dog had been cruelly treated.

He claimed that he did not see any eye or skin problems.

“I never noticed any problems,” he said.

“I didn’t think it was causing him any discomfort. It didn’t seem to bother him.

“We knew there were fleas. We must have used every flea shampoo, flea powder that was available.

“If a new flea product came out, we used it. It seemed to reduce them to some extent.

“He didn’t seem to be bothered by having them. He didn’t whine and didn’t scratch unduly.

“He just seemed a happy little dog.”

There was no cause for them to have concern about the dog suffering at any time.

“If he had, he would have been taken to a vet immediately,” claimed Morris.

“I didn’t think he was suffering in any way.”

Susan Morris told the court: “He was just fine. I used to give him baths.

“I saw a few fleas on him but I was treating it, sometimes two, three times a week. It got better.

“He was just like a normal dog. He wasn’t suffering at all.”

Sentencing |
David Morris: 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.
Susan Morris: electronic curfew for 20 weeks
Total of £335 costs and charges each
Both were banned indefinitely from keeping animals

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