A couple have appeared in court after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to their dog when they failed to treat an infected wound to her neck caused by an electric shock collar.
David and Jade Pearce both of Thorn Terrace, Leeds, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, November 4, for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to four offences each under the Animal Welfare Act.
Jade pleaded guilty to all offences at the first hearing and David pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty before the trial.
RSCPA inspector Kris Walker launched an investigation after he was called to kennels by the Leeds City Council dog warden to a dog who was collected on May 14, 2019, with a neck injury.
Inspector Walker said: "The brindle Dutch Shepherd had been found straying and was taken for veterinary treatment for a nasty injury to her neck. She was microchipped in the name of Remmy.
"The skin around her throat was sore, inflamed, scabby and she had puncture marks which matched up to the electric prongs on the collar she was wearing when she was found.
"The injury smelled extremely strongly of infection and the prongs had pierced the skin and gone through the muscle, causing a serious, open wound.
"A vet determined that she was suffering and a police officer attended to seize her and place her into RSPCA care.
"We believe the shock collar had been left on too tight and the prongs had rubbed and pushed through the skin. If it had then been used to administer an electric shock too then it would have made the pain even more unbearable."
Inspector Walker contacted the microchip company and made enquiries to track down Remmy’s owner - now known as David Pearce - and visited on 24 May to speak to him.
David and his partner, Jade, confirmed they had owned the dog - now renamed Missy - but had rehomed her on 14 May as they didn’t want to keep her.
Inspector Walker added: "They couldn’t provide an address or phone number for the person they claimed had taken Missy on.
"When I asked them if she’d been wearing a collar the last time they saw her they said she wasn’t and that they’d previously removed a collar because it was too tight for her."
Following a number of failed follow-up visits to the address to interview the couple, Inspector Walker could not contact them and issued an abandonment notice relating to Missy.
When she wasn’t claimed, she remained in RSPCA care receiving treatment for her injuries before being rehomed. She’s now doing brilliantly with her new family.
On Wednesday, the couple were both disqualified from keeping all animals for five years.
David was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work while Jade was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. They were ordered by the court to pay an £85 victim surcharge and £150 costs each.
