Man Fined for Dog Obesity

Thu, 03 Sep 2009

A man has been fined £1,170 after he allowed his pet dog to swell to 70 kilograms, almost three times its recommended weight. Melvyn Davies of Beaumaris in Anglesey said he was ‘genuinely remorseful’ and labelled the conviction as a ‘one-off aberration’ in a 40 year period of keeping animals . His good record with dogs meant that he has been allowed to keep his other 10 year old Labrador, which was in perfect health.

Mr Davies admitted four charges of causing unnecessary suffering at Holyhead magistrates, and admitted the dog had not received the medical attention it required. RSPCA inspector Kevin Paton describes the case as the worst case of obesity in a dog he has seen in his 35 year career. The RSPCA inspectors found that the dog, called Ben, had ‘short legs’ as a result of the excess weight, as well as a severe neck wound. Ben will now be cared for at a RSPCA foster home in Colwyn Bay after it was decided that it was not suitable for him to stay in the care of Mr Davies.

The case highlights the naivety that remains amongst some pet owners about the need to exercise and about what forms part of a healthy dog diet .

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