Underweight, ribs protruding, crusty skin are just some of conditions dogs endured across Kent.

Four people were recently found guilty of ill-treating and causing unnecessary suffering to their animals.

Scott Vinton, 18, and Sandra Taylor, 19, were brought to court by the RSPCA after an inspector discovered their staffordshire bull terrier, Rosie, grossly underweight and in need of veterinary care for a skin condition.

Two chickens, a cockerel and 15 racing pigeons were also seized by Kent Police from their Northfleet home in Bankside, in November 2006. Michael Roach of Central Avenue, Gravesend, was brought to court after an inspector found a black and white bearded collie cross weighing just 11.35kg, almost half the recommended body weight.

He had alopecia and lesions all over his body. Roach was given a conditional discharge for three years and banned from keeping any animal for three years and ordered to pay £200 costs.

James Wilson of Molland Lea, Ash, also given a conditional discharge for causing unnecessary suffering to his pet and had to pay £250 costs.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=39276

Klare Kennett a spokesman from the south east branch of the RSPCA, said: “In all these cases they could have been totally avoidable if the owners had taken them to the vet sooner. “There is no excuses for it.

“Its a huge shame often with all these cases the inspectors go round to the person’s house and we give them lots of warning. But when they go back to inspect and still nothing has been done we then have to prosecute people.”