CONVICTED (2023) | serial animal abuser Stuart Eunson, born 12 February 1982, of Lucock Street, South Shields NE34 0NQ – neglected a dog found underweight, covered in faeces, with crusty eyes, leg and rib injuries and a severe skin condition.
Eunson was given a 10-year ban on keeping animals in 2020 in relation to another neglected Staffy. This followed a three-year ban imposed in 2018, which he had also breached.
In July 2022 the RSPCA received a tip-off that Eunson was keeping a dog at his home.
RSPCA inspector Rowena Proctor said: “When I visited Eunson’s home … [he] appeared at the door holding a white Staffordshire bull terrier which he handed over to me. The poor dog’s eyes were crusted closed, he smelled terrible and despite having a white coat, his legs were dark brown with what looked like faeces.
“Eunson confirmed that he understood that he was banned from keeping animals and while he allowed me to take the Staffie – called Rebel – to the vet, he refused to acknowledge the dog was his or to sign him over.”
The examining vet reported that Rebel had arrived in a very anxious and agitated state. He was underweight, had eye and ear infections as well as itchy, inflamed skin and a sore ribcage.
His skin and cat were soiled with faeces, he had overgrown nails and he was lame from a previous injury to his left forelimb.
The vet concluded that the lameness following the injury to the left forelimb; the itchiness; the eyelid changes and the head shaking and ear rubbing along with the unsettled behaviour would have been a cause of distress to the animal and should have alerted the owner to Rebel’s poor health. It was the vet’s opinion that by failing to protect his dog from pain, suffering, injury and disease – which would have included seeking vet care for the dog – Eunson allowed Rebel to unnecessarily suffer.
Inspector Proctor said: “Not only did Eunson disobey court-imposed bans on keeping animals, but during this most recent incident, while it was still illegal for him to have a dog, he was keeping and clearly neglecting Rebel”.
Sentencing | 18-month community order, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 19 ‘Thinking Skills’ sessions. Lifetime ban on owning animals.