A dalmatian puppy was saved from mistreatment when builders carrying out work on its owner’s house spotted it starving in a crate and called the RSPCA.
The workmen saw the dog at the home of Alastair Watt in Worksop early this year and were so shocked by her appearance they called in inspectors from the charity.
The eight-month-old puppy, called Penny, was found in a crate with no food or water. She was taken into RSPCA foster care.
Watt, 46, of Sherwood Road, was taken to court and admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
RSPCA inspector Becky Harper said: “As soon as I saw Penny I knew that something wasn’t right. She was so thin and you could see her hip bones, spine and ribs. She was also very nervous but clearly desperate for food.
“It was clearly obvious that she was in a state of neglect. It was very quickly proven that there were no underlying health issues and her poor condition was simply due to not being provided with a suitable diet.
“It is not acceptable to leave an animal to suffer in the state that she was in.”
Watt was disqualified from keeping animals for ten years and fined £1,400 and ordered to pay £650 costs.
A deprivation order was also made for Penny who will now pass into the care of the RSPCA and be made available for re-homing.
