CONVICTED (2023) | Mark Stables, born 12 October 1981, of Grove Road, Hastings TN35 4JS – left a dog to suffer so much he had to be immediately put to sleep.
Stables let the five-year-old brown Chow dog suffer with open sores, underlying anaemia and fur matted in faeces and urine over the course of a month.
The dog, named Chase, was put to sleep by a vet to “end his suffering”. The vet said he was lethargic and whimpering.
The RSPCA noticed a “strong foul smell” when they first found Chase in Beauport Caravan Park in St Leonards.
Stables signed the dog over to the charity after claiming to have had him for just under a month between March 12 and April 8, 2022*.
RSPCA inspector Tony Woodley said: “I was taken inside the caravan by Stables where I noticed a strong foul smell.
“I was shown a brown Chow dog lying on the floor in the bathroom. This dog was clearly distressed and unable to stand. The dog was wearing a harness. I could also see and feel that the dog was very underweight. I asked the owner of the dog if it had been treated by a vet and he said it had not.”
“This poor dog had clearly been left to suffer for a number of weeks by his owner.
“He must have endured pain throughout this period due to the open sores obvious on his body. It is sad that despite the best attempts of the veterinary team, Chase had to be put to sleep to end his unnecessary suffering.
“Stables seriously failed in his responsibilities towards the animal. Poor Chase couldn’t even stand when I found him, yet Stables hadn’t acted or sought veterinary advice.
“The RSPCA urges anyone struggling to take care of their pet to ask for help, rather than neglecting them and leaving them to suffer.”
Sentencing | 18 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months; 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days; 200 hours of unpaid work;
ordered to pay £300 costs and a victim surcharge of £128. Indefinite ban on keeping animals.
*A reliable source has told us that Stables had owned Chase since he was a puppy.