Northamptonshire dog owner jailed after leaving his pet to starve to death in squalor

A Northamptonshire man who left his pet dog to starve to death in squalor after he moved out his flat has been jailed for 18 weeks and has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Grant Courtney, aged 30, of Weekley Glebe Road, Kettering, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his Bull breed dog called Kilo whose emaciated body was found at his previous address in Irthlingborough, amongst piles of rubbish and faeces.

An RSPCA Inspector went to the house in Lime Street, in February this year with a local authority housing officer following concerns for a dog at the property.

Unable to gain legal access to the house she sealed the doors to monitor whether anyone was entering the house – when the seals remained intact for two days police were called.

RSPCA Inspector Beckie Harlock told Northamptonshire Magistrates Court: “There was an awful smell coming from the property, from experience I knew it could be from something having died so I called the police. The officers agreed and were also concerned, so used force and entry was made.

“Inside the property there was a very pungent smell, Kilo was found dead on the floor, behind the sofa and under a bicycle out of sight from the window.

“The property was very untidy and there was white faeces all over the floor and broken household items. I could see what I believed to be bite and scratch marks from a dog on the door and furniture.

“Kilo was found in an emaciated and decomposing condition and the smell was overwhelming. There was no food, water or any bowls seen. The room was about 15 by 15 feet square.”

She took the body of Kilo to a vet expert who said the pet weighed 17.8kg and was given a body score of 1 out of 9 which classed him as emaciated.

A post mortem examination indicated death by starvation.

The vet concluded: “When an animal reaches body condition score 1, suffering begins due to pain and weakness from using up the body’s remaining energy reserves. The effects on the body of being in this condition has been shown to cause suffering.

“The time taken from reaching body condition score 1 until death, is the length of time the dog therefore suffered pain.

“Kilo was caused to suffer for at least two weeks due to starvation, which then led to his death.”

In sentencing at the court, on November 4, the bench said due to prolonged neglect and deliberate disregard for the welfare of the dog and high levels of harm they would impose an immediate 18 week immediate prison sentence.

As well as the custodial sentence and ban on keeping all animals for 10 years, he was also ordered to pay £400 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

In mitigation, the court took into account the defendant's early guilty plea – he said he felt “regret and shame”.