Fernhill man sentenced after dog left in 'dreadful state'
Chris Lee Bufton of Fernhill, Mountain Ash has been disqualified from keeping animals for life.
This comes after Mr Bufton caused unnecessary suffering to his Dachshund cross bull, Shiloh by failing to investigate and address her skin disease.
Shiloh had pink inflamed skin. (Image: RSPCA Cymru) He also failed to meet her needs by failing to protect her from pain, suffering, injury or disease by failing to provide adequate treatment for dry eye and a flea burden by failing to provide any or adequate parasitic control.
On Monday, September 23, 2024, Deputy Chief Inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper responded to a call reporting a collapsed dog with bad skin.
'She was collapsed, unable to stand and she had approximately 70 per cent fur loss throughout her body, uncovering thick, pink/red, inflamed skin.
'She had green discharge in both eyes and a heavy flea burden living in the little fur she did have as well as scabbing throughout. Shiloh looked in a dreadful state and my heart really felt for her.'
Mr Bufton appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, June 4.
He was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment for the first offence - which was suspended for 18 months, and for the second offence he was sentenced to eight-week imprisonment (which will run concurrently), which was also suspended for 18 months.
He was handed a 10-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 12-month Mental Health Treatment Requirement and was ordered to pay £500 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
Shiloh was taken to RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic for an examination and the decision was made by a vet to put her to sleep to prevent further suffering.
Shiloh was put to sleep to end her suffering. (Image: RSPCA Cymru) The court heard in a statement from a vet that every blink would have been sore for Shiloh and her 'end stage dry eye' would have meant there was no water for her tears.
The vet said: 'Her entire body apart from an area over the top of her neck and chest was completely bald with crusting on the surface and severe thickening with reddening of the skin especially over all her legs and around the back end of her body.
'She had a large flea burden on the haired part of her skin and on touching the front part of her body instantly her hind legs tried to scratch.
'There were some changes to the skin around the openings of both ear canals with a heavy scarring of the ear flap of the right ear indicating either trauma or more likely self trauma/effects from her underlying skin problems.'
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