CONVICTED (2023) | Frank Rogers, born 1 December 1955, of 276 Queens Road, Monsall, Manchester M40 8JW – failed to get vet treatment for a dog found bald, unable to walk and riddled with infections.
Rogers was prosecuted after RSPCA officers found his terrier cross Buster in ‘very poor condition’. The court heard the dog was suffering with chronic skin disease, which had left him almost bald of fur, ingrown nails that were so bad he was unable to walk, and ear disease.
Rogers said Buster was ‘okay’ when he got him from a friend a year earlier and that he had only just lost his fur.
He pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006..
RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) Helen Chapman went to Rogers’ home on April 14, 2023, to investigate a report of concern about a ‘bald dog’ at the property.
In a statement to the court, the officer said: “The dog was laying on its side on a chair, covered over with a blanket apart from his head and he made no attempt to move. I could see Buster was in very poor condition, with bald, dry pink skin.”
Rogers agreed to let the animal rescue officer take Buster to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital. Sadly, he was in such poor health that in a vet’s expert opinion the kindest course of action to end his suffering was to put him to sleep.
The vet who examined the dog found he was suffering from infections in both ear canals, overgrown nails and alopecia which had caused extensive irritation. Buster was also underweight with a low body condition score of two out of nine.
The vet stated that given the severity of Buster’s condition, he would have been suffering for many weeks and likely longer.
“His overgrown nails will have been a source of pain,” she said.
“Secondary changes such as lichenification of the skin and stenosis of the ears indicated the skin and ear disease was chronic in nature. The ear infections too will have caused discomfort and would have made it difficult for him to settle. He was shaking his head and getting no relief,” said the vet.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work; costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £114. A 10-year ban on owning animals.
Again very weak sentencing. Courts need to get a grip. They actually contributing to the problem as there is no deterrent.
Is that the only punishment he got for the agony that the poor dog went thro. Where is the justice in this country when this cruelty is not dealt with and this sadistic human just gets his wrists slapped. This poor dog lost his life thro cruelty and neglect for no fault of his own. Whoever dished out this judgement should be ashamed of himself.