A WOMAN has been banned from keeping animals for five years after her dog was found in an appalling state.

Shadow, a mongrel bitch, had puss seeping from her eyes, was half her ideal weight and had a open wound on a large growth on her hindquarters. She had to be put down by a vet.

Her owner, Elizabeth Pellett, 39, a sales administrator, of Hode Lane, Bridge, near Canterbury, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a dog when she appeared before the city's magistrates. She was also ordered to pay £1,200 towards the prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

The dog was found in November by firefighters who had entered Pellett's secluded bungalow after fearing someone was dead on the premises.

A vet examined Shadow soon after she was found. The vet decided she had to be put down at once to end her suffering.

Ian Bond, for Pellett, said Shadow was 18 years old when she died and had been cared for lovingly for all but the last five weeks of her life.

Mr Bond told the magistrates: "You have been shown photographs of my client's home. What you will see is that she was not able to look after her pet and more importantly that she was not able to look after herself.

"My client had owned this dog since she was six months old and we are not being asked to consider that this dog has maltreated over a long period of time. This dog was loved for many years and was a happy family pet."

Mr Bond said Pellett began to suffer personal and mental health difficulties following the death of her husband.

"Since then this lady has found life very difficult, especially as she has no extended family," he said. "She is an extremely isolated person and suffers from depression."

After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Colin Kirkwood urged anyone experiencing difficulties with animals to contact the organisation.

He said: "All these people have got to do is phone us or phone a vet to get help and advice."