(Image: RSPCA Cymru)
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A Bargoed man has been banned from keeping animals for 18 months after he failed to get veterinary help for his disabled dog’s deteriorating condition, leaving an open wound on the animal’s leg to fester.
David Tasker, 58, of Henry Street, Bargoed, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and was sentenced at Merthyr Magistrates’ Court on April 8 following a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
Benji’s condition
Tasker’s terrier cross, Benji, had been diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease before Tasker took on ownership of him, leaving the dog paralysed in his hind legs and incontinent. Tasker used a wheeled dog cart to take him on walks.
A veterinary report found that a wound on Benji’s left hind leg had been present for more than a year. The 7cm wound was deep enough to expose bone at the ankle joint, with the joint completely disrupted and some bony structures missing as a result of chronic infection.
The vet stated: “The joint was totally disrupted with no stability and some bony structures missing, which was due to chronic infection destroying the bones after the wound became deep enough to expose them. The wound had been present for over a year and although it was trying to heal at that stage it was unlikely ever to do so due to ongoing damage. A reasonable owner should have sought veterinary attention.”
Benji’s skin had also broken down due to prolonged contact with urine, producing ulcerated nodules across his body. A vet concluded his condition was so poor that the kindest option was euthanasia.
The investigation
RSPCA Inspector Sophie Daniels launched an investigation after the charity received a report of a dog with “wounds and maggots”.
When she visited Tasker’s home on July 18 last year, she found Benji in a poor state. One of his hind legs was wrapped in a makeshift bandage held together with parcel tape, and he had lost hair across his back and rump. Raised nodules of skin covered his belly.
“As I got closer to the dog there was an overwhelming smell of urine and the skin all over the underside of the dog was wet. There was a makeshift bandage on the left hind leg, which looked to be wrapped in parcel tape which the defendant said he had put on,” said the inspector.
Tasker told the officer he had been washing Benji daily but had resorted to using human mouthwash to treat a maggot infestation which had developed during a spell of hot weather.
When the inspector took Benji to the RSPCA Merthyr Clinic and the bandage was removed, it revealed an open flesh wound on the outside of the left hind foot along with smaller pressure ulcers.
“Benji had a long open flesh wound with white showing in the middle. I could not tell if this was bone or tendon, but the wound was large and deep in the centre and the hock joint was very moveable as though broken,” added the inspector.
Sentencing
The court heard that Tasker suffers from mental health and alcohol dependency issues and has financial difficulties, which were taken into account as mitigating factors.
In addition to the 18-month disqualification from keeping animals, Tasker was placed under a 12-month community order requiring him to complete 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £400 in court costs and a £400 victim surcharge.
Speaking after the hearing, Inspector Daniels said: “Because of his spinal disease Benji needed a lot of care, but the defendant took it on himself to treat his skin issues and the wound on his hind leg when he should have gone straight to a vets before his condition deteriorated.”
