RSPCA: Norfolk couple who failed to get vet treatment for sick dog get ban
A couple from Great Yarmouth have been banned from keeping animals for 12 years after only calling in an RSPCA inspector when their dog was in a collapsed state.
Bubacar Embalo, 29, and Lilina Duarte, 33, of Howard Street North were told by Great Yarmouth Magistrates that they would not be able to appeal the ban for 10 years.
RSPCA inspector Amy Collingsworth was called to the house in the evening of 25 February and shown to the conservatory where Jack, a tan and white, three year old male Staffordshire bull terrier was lying: “All his ribs, spine, hips and skull were visible and I thought he was dead.
“His body was very cold to the touch and unresponsive but when I checked his eye reflexes he reacted.
“The owners explained that he had been vomiting for a long period of time but that it had got worse over the last two weeks.”
Jack was immediately taken to a vet who gave him fluids and tried to warm him up but in spite of their best efforts he died the next day.
The court was told that a post mortem had been carried out and it had shown that Jack was suffering from haemorrhagic gastroenteritis which would have caused him severe pain and loss of blood. He was extremely emaciated, very dehydrated and had severe hypothermia.
Embalo and Duarte were also given an eight week sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £150 costs each.
Inspector Collingsworth said: “It was very upsetting that we lost Jack as he was left far too long before receiving medical attention.
“Any responsible owner would have taken him to a vet who would have put him on antibiotics and fluids and he could have fully recovered.”
To help the RSPCA investigate cases like this you can text the word HELP to 78866 to give £3 ( texts cost £3 + one standard network rate charge).
ENDS
Notes to editors
Pictures are available from the national press office on 0300 123 0244/0288
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