“CRUELTY of any kind towards defenceless animals should not be tolerated” – that was the verdict of county dog warden Pip Singleton after a Redditch man was banned from owning dos for ten years.
Anthony Poole, 45, was also given a 12 month community order with a 15-week curfew at his address in Northleach Close, Church Hill between 7pm and 7am and ordered to pay costs of £1,400 and a victim surcharge of £85 after pleading guilty to two counts of cruelty.
Poole was sentenced at Redditch Magistrates Court on January 23 after pleading guilty to two contraventions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Poole first came to the attention of Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ dog wardens in November 2014 when a stray Rottweiler had been found in the Redditch area.
The dog was underweight, in poor condition and had an eye infection.
When Poole reclaimed the dog he was given help and advice regarding canine care and was advised to find the vet.
In April 2016 the team received a call regarding two stray dogs, a Rottweiler, called Zeena, and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Obi in Redditch.
The dogs were in a very poor condition and were taken to the vets for immediate assessment and treatment.
Reports found both were in poor condition and the vet confirmed they were suffering unnecessarily. Obi had a skin infection and was underweight and Zeena had eye problems, significant hair loss and a problem with her right leg.
Poole was again identified as the owner of the dogs.
Before Redditch Magistrate Poole accepted he should have taken the dogs to the vet and provided better care for them.
He said being on benefits he could not afford the vet’s bills and the PDSA would only take one dog at a time.
After the case WRS Dog Warden Pip Singleton said: “The dogs have since been rehomed and are happy and healthy.
“I believe the more people are exposed to what humans are capable of against animals, the more they will be on the look out for cases of cruelty so we can step in and end this unnecessary suffering.”
