A cruel Scots dog owner who left his badly matted pet in ‘extreme discomfort’ after failing to get him vet treatment has been handed a three year ban. Kevin McEntee’s Lhasa Apso Frankie was found making ‘constant whining noises and crying out’ while suffering from a painful skin infection in September 2020.
The seven-year-old was eventually handed over into the care of the Scottish SPCA who were forced to shave his entire head, body, legs and tail to remove the matted fur. The pooch had several areas of dermatitis and secondary skin infections, which were treated, but he continued to self-harm by scratching himself.
Frankie was later put to sleep on welfare grounds due to having an allergic skin disease which had no cure. Ex-owner McEntee, 28, appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court on March 27 and pleaded guilty to failing to get the dog veterinary treatment and grooming.
He was fined £315, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and slapped with a three year disqualification order. The Scottish SPCA launched an investigation into McEntee’s treatment of Frankie in August 2020 but he repeatedly dodged their attempts to meet.
Inspector Isla Bell said: “A total of 10 attempts were made by our inspectors to view the dog in question and it was not until 10 September 2020 that McEntee met us at the property. Frankie’s fur was extremely matted on his head and legs and he was wearing a buster collar, the type a dog would get after having surgery to prevent them licking stitches.
“Frankie was bald in the areas that weren’t matted and his skin looked red and inflamed. His eyes were not visible due to the matting on his head. McEntee stated that he had only had Frankie for two weeks after getting him back from a family friend who had been looking after him, however he was unable to provide the name of this person or any other details.
“Frankie was clearly agitated. He would run around for a few seconds then sit frantically trying to scratch his head under and over the buster collar. He was making constant whining noises and crying out in extreme discomfort. The extreme mental frustration and irritation that Frankie would have endured as a result of having the buster collar on with his severe skin condition would have been unbearable.
“McEntee agreed to relinquish ownership of his dog into the care of the Scottish SPCA and Frankie was taken to one of our animal rescue and rehoming centres for immediate veterinary treatment. Frankie’s feet were particularly inflamed where faeces had become embedded into the matts and caused bacterial skin infection underneath.
“Despite receiving veterinary treatment, Frankie was still experiencing extreme itchiness. The vet thought Frankie’s condition could be due to an allergic skin disease for which there is no cure. Due to the severity of self-harm Frankie was causing himself by scratching, the difficult decision was made for Frankie to be euthanised in order to prevent the ongoing suffering his skin was causing him.
“Frankie’s condition could have been easily avoided with regular grooming. His discomfort and pain would have undoubtedly caused behavioural changes in the early stages which would have been obvious to any reasonable person and should have prompted urgent veterinary treatment.
“We are happy the courts have dealt with this case, however it further highlights our push for tougher and more consistent sentencing. This level of neglect didn’t happen overnight and could have easily been avoided.
“If anyone is concerned about an animal, they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
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