CONVICTED (2016) | Wayne Newton, born c. 1968, of Arrowe Park Road, Upton, Wirral CH49 0UB – failed to take his poorly flea-infested dogs for veterinary treatment.
Newton neglected his flea-ridden dogs and left one suffering from a tumour.
One of the dogs had to be put down after vets found the pair living in “absolute squalor” at the home of Wayne Newton.
RSPCA officers called at Newton’s home after members of the public raised concerns about the dogs, named Patch and Socks.
Both dogs had overgrown claws and were infested with fleas – and Newton had clipped most of the fur from 15-year-old Patch in an attempt to rid him of the infestation.
He pleaded guilty to four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the animals and failing to seek proper veterinary care.
Giving Newton a suspended prison sentence, district judge Michael Abelson said the then 47-year-old was “barely able to look after himself”.
Peter Mitchell, prosecuting, said: “On opening the letterbox, a strong, putrid smell emanated from the property.
“The defendant opened the door shortly afterwards and immediately stated that one of the dogs had a problem, saying: “I was going to ring you, can you take him? My other dog is really old but he’s fine.”
The house was described as dirty and sparsely furnished and RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said it had a strong smell of infection.
Mr Mitchell told the court: “The defendant said it was due to a neighbour having thrown urine into his property a few days before the RSPCA called.”
Newton agreed to sign the dogs over and vets found Socks, an 18-month-old black and white crossbreed, had extensive fur thinning and a chronic ear infection which had almost closed off his ear canal. He was underweight and his spine and ribs were clearly visible.
Elderly brindle crossbreed Patch was heavily infested with fleas. He was shaking and almost blind. His claws were overgrown and twisted around each other and he had two lumps on the side of his body and an infected ulcerated mass on his rear. He was put to sleep to end his suffering.
Socks was nursed back to health by vets and rehomed.
Newton, who lives just a street away from a veterinary surgery, sobbed and had his head bowed in the dock.
Sentence: 4-month prison sentence, suspended for 2 years; £500 in costs. Banned from keeping animals for life.