A man has been banned from keeping animals for a decade after he left his urine-stained dog to suffer with infected tumours without vet care for at least 18 months.

The RSPCA was called to the address of Simon Moynes in Chatham after they received a report of a dog with fleas and a skin condition.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

When the inspector arrived on January 26 last year they found 12-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Cassie in a “very subdued state”.

She was underweight, had hair missing, two large masses and couldn’t stand for very long.

The inspector said: “I immediately noted a strong smell of urine and infection coming from Cassie.

“She appeared extremely lethargic and subdued. Moynes placed Cassie on the floor in front of me and I could see she was extremely underweight with her ribs clearly visible.

“She had fur loss across her mid to lower back and down her back legs and I could see urine staining on her back legs. She also appeared to be dripping urine involuntarily.

“She had evidence of flea dirt and fleas on her back.

“Cassie was able to stand for a few seconds before she laid down in front of me and appeared extremely weak on her legs.

“On her front left leg around her elbow she had a large mass that I noted was about the size of a grapefruit that was open, ulcerated, oozing pus and blood and smelt extremely strong of infection.

“I also noted a small mass on her abdomen that was also open, ulcerated and oozing pus and blood.”

Moynes claimed he hadn’t been able to take Cassie to the vet since before 2020 as he was unable to get an appointment during the covid lockdown.

The 38-year-old agreed to let the inspector take Cassie to the vet for treatment.

The vet decided that the best thing to do to end Cassie’s suffering would be to put her to sleep due to the severity of her condition.

In a witness statement, the vet said: “The period of suffering is likely to have been 18 months and this could have been reduced if veterinary advice was seeked sooner.

“Both masses would have caused severe pain and suffering for Cassie, there was rotting tissue in both masses which had caused severe infection.

“Due to her anaemia she was extremely lethargic and had shortness of breath upon presentation.

“Cassie would have been suffering with anaemia for up to six months as a result of her untreated condition.

“Due to her emaciation and muscle wastage she could barely stand and couldn’t walk where she was so lethargic, weak and in a suffering state.

“Due to the degree of disease and suffering, I recommend euthanasia.

“Her tumours were so large that they were inoperable, and would have had to involve removal of the entire front leg to adequately remove the tumour.

“In a severely compromised, anaemic and hypotensive dog this would not have been possible as she would not have survived the anaesthetic.”

On March 20, Moynes was sentenced at Medway Magistrates Court.

He pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence following a prosecution by the RSPCA.

He was banned from keeping animals for ten years and sentenced to a 18 month high level community order high level community order including 180 hours of unpaid community work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

In mitigation, Moynes said he had mental health issues.

He showed significant remorse and accepted that Cassie should have been taken to a vet.