An owner who kept his dog in a flat 'full of dirt' and 'swarming with flies' has been jailed. The abhorrent conditions were snapped by the animal welfare charity RSPCA after bulldog Diego had been reportedly neglected.
The living conditions, which included an apartment strewn with dog faeces, swarming with flies and with rubbish littered across the property were inspected by Lisa Lupson from the organisation who couldn't believe the state of the flat, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Ms Lupson told the dog's owner, Steven Johnson from Kirkby, north-east of Liverpool there was no chance of Diego returning to live in such squalid conditions.
Johnson was said to have told the officer he hadn't been living in the property and had started to clean up after being given the chance to rectify the state of affairs. A further inspection weeks later found the flat "caked in dirt" and "was in no state for a human or animal to live in".
Inspector Lupson said: “Straight away I could see a large amount of flies and noted rubbish at the bottom and all the way up the stairs to the flat. At the top of the stairs I was greeted by more flies and a large pile of filled rubbish bags.
“The floor was caked in dirt and there was nowhere clean to stand. Rubbish and household items also littered the floor. I was hesitant at this point to go further as I already knew the property was in no fit state for a human or an animal to live in.
“When I saw the bathroom I had to try hard not to gag, it was in a disgusting condition. The sink was blocked with dirty water to the top and what appeared to be faeces caked to the toilet. The kitchen was filthy, again containing filled rubbish bags and the floor covered in dirt.
“The bedroom was also in a similar condition with the floor caked in dirt and rubbish strewn on the bed and floor."
The owner had denied neglecting Diego on June 27 last year during a hearing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court but was found guilty in over a number of animal welfare offences at a trial in February. A sentencing hearing on April 11 disqualified Johnson from keeping all animals for ten years and he was given a 12-week prison sentence.
The RSPCA have been able to re-home Diego through a deprivation order being imposed after Johnson repeatedly refused to sign the dog over.
In interview, Johnson agreed that the living conditions for Diego were unsuitable and he was sorry for not meeting the pet's needs. The dog is now being looked after at a private boarding establishment on behalf of the RSPCA and is said to be doing well.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, inspector Lupson said: “Conditions at the flat were unsanitary and hazardous and totally unsuitable for humans and animals to be living in. Diego is now enjoying life which is lovely to see. His welfare is much improved and we will be looking to rehome him.”
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