CONVICTED (2014) | David Lowe, born c. 1980, of Edward Street, Farnworth, Bolton – starved a 15-year-old lurcher so badly she had to be put down
Lowe neglected 15-year-old Fly until the animal was less than half her normal body weight. When the tan-coloured lurcher was rescued she was barely breathing and had to be put down.
Vet Angus McKenzie said in a court statement he felt Fly ‘was the most severely emaciated dog dead or alive that he had ever seen in the 30 years he had been in practice.’
The dog was 12-15% dehydrated and weighed just 8.1kg, which was less than half her ideal body weight. She had discharge coming from a sinus just below her eye, an abscess in her mouth, overgrown nails and had severe and advanced dental disease.
The court hear that Fly could have been “easily treated” if help had been sought earlier, but she was put down after being found in a “severely emaciated condition”.
Lowe avoided jail because he had apparently shown “remorse” for his actions and also had mental health problems.
Sentence: 12-week suspended prison sentence, total of £1,080 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.
In June 2014 Lowe appeared in court again charged with criminal damage. Lowe pleaded guilty to damaging a woman’s window on 17 May 2014. He was given a conditional discharge and restraining order.