CONVICTED (2017) | Anthony Roy Poole, born 8 September 1971, of Northleach Close, Redditch B98 8RB – starved and neglected two dogs and allowed them to stray.
Anthony Poole pleaded guilty to two contraventions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
He first came to the attention of Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ dog wardens in November 2014 when a stray Rottweiler was found in the Redditch area.
The dog was underweight, in poor condition and had an eye infection.
When Poole reclaimed the dog he was given help and advice regarding canine care.
In April 2016 the team received a call regarding two stray dogs, a Rottweiler named Zeena and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Obi in the Redditch area.
The dogs were in a very poor condition and were taken to the vets for immediate assessment and treatment.
Clinical reports determined that both were in a poor condition and the vet confirmed that both dogs were suffering unnecessarily.
Obi had a skin infection and was underweight and Zeena had eye problems, significant hair loss and she had a problem with her right leg.
Poole was again identified as the owner of the dogs.
In court, Poole accepted that he should have taken the dogs to the vet and provided better care for them.
He said being on benefits he could not afford the vet’s bills and the PDSA would only take one dog at a time.
Speaking after the case Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ dog warden Pip Singleton said: “The dogs have since been rehomed and are happy and healthy.
“Cruelty of any kind towards defenceless animals should not be tolerated and we have run campaigns to highlight the plights of animals across the county.
“I believe the more people are exposed to what humans are capable of against animals, the more they will be on the look out for cases of cruelty so we can step in and end this unnecessary suffering.”
Sentencing: 12 month community order with a 15-week curfew; costs of £1,400 and a victim surcharge of £85. Banned from owning dogs for 10 years (expires February 2027).