A MAN and his wife have been given a suspended prison sentence and disqualified from keeping animals for life after allowing their dog to suffer.

Jess, a female American bulldog, had multiple conditions including entropian (a painful condition where the eyelids fold inwards), an infected facial abscess, ear and skin infections and thickening of all the pads on her feet, resulting in thick horny growths which meant she could barely walk.

Vincent John Lloyd, 50, and Sharon Patricia Lloyd, 43, both of Chaytor Road, Consett, appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court, where they admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Jess by failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care, between August 2014 and 2015.

RSPCA Inspector Heidi Cleaver said: “This poor dog was in a very sorry state and was undoubtedly suffering.

“I’ve never seen anything like the growths from the pads on her feet which would have been obvious to anyone. She could barely walk as a result.

“Her face was oozing puss from the infected abscess and her eyes were secreting discharge from the painful entropion.”

Ms Cleaver attended the Lloyd’s home on August 12 this year after a call from a concerned member of the public. Jess was taken straight to a local veterinary practice. Sadly, once under sedation, it became clear to the vet that the most humane thing to do was to put her to sleep and that was done with the owner’s consent.

Mr and Mrs Lloyd were given 12 weeks prison sentences suspended for 12 months and were ordered to pay £242 in costs.

Ms Cleaver said: “Owning an animal is a luxury, it isn’t a right, and meeting the needs of the animals in your care is a responsibility, which includes providing veterinary care as and when it is needed.

“This couple failed Jess miserably, and left her miserable and suffering as a result.”