CONVICTED (2014) | Jennifer Jayne Plater, born 14 October 1974, and Michael Edward Knight, born 26 March 1973, both of Rutland Road, Tyldesley, Manchester M29 8EY – starved a young Weimaraner dog until she became a “walking skeleton”.
Lola, a female Weimaraner-type dog, was rescued by the RSPCA from the home of Jennifer Plater and partner Michael Knight.
The cruel couple bought the young dog from a stranger on the street but then starved her to emaciation.
A court heard she weighed just 14.5kg against an average weight for a dog of her type of around 30kg.
The vet report stated that she had suffered for around six weeks.
Plater and Knight were convicted in their absence of causing unnecessary suffering to Lola and failing to meet her needs by failing to provide a suitable diet and fresh water.
RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald said: “Lola was so emaciated you could see every bone in her body.
“Anyone could see that she was extremely underweight, in fact we were alerted to her plight after a shocked member of the public saw Mr Knight out with her, though he does deny this. She was like a walking skeleton.”
The RSPCA attended the couple’s home in December 2013 and Lola was seized by police.
The court heard that when presented with food she ‘ate ravenously’.
Lola was signed over to the RSPCA and is now happy and healthy and in a new loving home.
Inspector McDonald added: “All owners are responsible for meeting the needs of their pets – the most basic of which is the provision of an adequate diet. This couple failed this dog terribly, she was literally starving to death.
“They bought Lola for £100 from a stranger they met in the street. A free vet check around the same time showed she was a normal, healthy weight, so the weight loss happened in their care. People should always think long and hard about taking on a dog.”
Sentencing | 26-week curfew order; Plater was ordered to pay £200 in costs and Knight £300.. Banned from keeping any animal as a pet for 10 years (expires April 2024).