A COUPLE’s failure to seek treatment for their dog’s painful skin condition has been branded “disgusting and despicable” by a magistrate.

Mitsy, a Staffordshire bull terrier, was irritated so much by her infected skin that she scratched off large patches of fur, causing painful sores to develop.

Her owners, Gemma Hutchinson, 31, and Neil McGough, 33, of Eden Road, Spennymoor, County Durham, failed to attend two court hearings before magistrates found them guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal in their absence on Monday, October 6.

The case was adjourned for probation reports and the pair returned to Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court for sentence today (Thursday, October 23).

Magistrates heard the charge related to a four-week period between Sunday, May 18, and Wednesday, June 18, when the couple failed to take steps to control a parasitic infection, which caused Mitsy to develop a chronic skin condition.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting, said a RSPCA officer had visited the couple’s home after members of the public raised concerns about the animal.

Noting the dog’s infected skin, the officer instructed Hutchinson to take her partner’s dog to a vet.

“The vet observed the dog was around four to six-years-old and had a very bad skin condition,” said Mr Campbell. “In her opinion the skin had been in that condition for months.”

Mr Campbell said Mitsy was responding well to treatment and was being looked after by the RSPCA until a new home is found.

McGough, a factory worker, and Hutchinson, a full-time mother of six with no previous convictions, were unrepresented at the hearing but probation officer Mo Sibert said they were deeply embarrassed about the incident.

“He [McGough] was worried about high vets bills and was scared that the dog might get put down,” said Ms Sibert. “He tried to self medicate but this only irritated the condition more.”

Before passing sentence, chair of the magistrates, Patricia Wilson, said: “This was a dog children would have been stroking and touching, which is awful. The whole thing is disgusting and despicable. “Nobody has to have a dog and if you are not able to look after one you shouldn’t have one. It’s simple.”

The pair received 18-month conditional discharges and were both banned from keeping animals for five years.

They were each ordered to pay costs and vet bills of £435 and a £15 victim surcharge.