A BARNSLEY pensioner whose springer spaniel had to be put down due to a severe skin disease has been handed a suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping dogs for the next decade.

Brian Buckley, 75, of Church Lane in High Hoyland, appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court charged with causing unnecessary suffering to his dog called Pip, by failing to provide veterinary treatment when it had a severe skin disease.

Officers from the RSPCA recovered the elderly brown and white dog in January but four months later vets decided it was in her best interests to put her to sleep.

Buckley admitted the charge and was sentenced on September 25 to pay costs of £400 and a £154 victim surcharge.

He was also banned from keeping cats and dogs for ten years, and was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for one year.

Magistrates dismissed the idea from the defence that Pip’s suffering was due to a ‘momentary lapse’ - calling it ‘more than a flare-up’ which had been ‘going on for some time’.

The bench added: “The RSPCA tried their best with all their expertise, but Pip could not be saved, you left it too long and it was too late.”

Inspector Hannah Williams said in a statement that she attended the defendant’s home last January and found Pip in a kennel.

She said: “I was concerned for her welfare.

“Pip’s face was swollen, sore looking and had fur loss.

“She had a few cuts as well.”

She arranged for South Yorkshire Police to attend while Pip was recovered and taken away for medical examination and treatment.

Vets said she was suffering from severe skin disease in areas including her face and muzzle, back, neck and belly.

She also had ear infections, and painful eye conditions.

In mitigation, it was said the defendant had suffered a significant impact from the loss of his wife and that dogs were a big part of his life.

He tried to treat Pip with medical shampoo and took her to the vets - though there had been a ‘significant time gap’.

He had not set out to harm her and posed no further risk to animals.

After the case, Inspector Williams said: “As the court could see, this neglect was not something that has happened overnight.

“Unfortunately we are seeing a rise in incidents where owners are not getting preventative care or taking animals to the vets when the first symptoms show - resulting in the animal deteriorating to this extreme.

“Pet-owners should seek veterinary advice as soon as symptoms appear.

“Waiting to act can result in that animal suffering and expensive vet bills.

“It was very sad seeing Pip in the state she was in.

“She was tightly curled up in the kennel and very reluctant to move.

“I’m just glad that we were able to get her out to see a vet, so she could receive treatment and care, which made her final months as comfortable as they could have been.”