A man has been banned from keeping animals for five years after the RSPC found a mastiff and lurcher were starving and underweight.
Robbie Nelson, of Woodfield View in Harrogate, was charged with failing to ensure the needs of the two dogs were met, which was proven in his absence.
He appeared for sentencing at York Magistrates Court on July 26.
The court heard that the mastiff, called Rocco, and the lurcher, Smudge, were so underweight that their ribs were protruding.
Inspector Tom Hutton from the RSPCA attended the flat in High Street, Harrogate on March 18 last year after police called him out when they searched Nelson’s house on another matter.
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Mr Hutton needed to squeeze through the living room door to reach the dogs because of the large amount of clutter, scrap bikes and household waste that was piled up.
Areas of the flat were covered in faeces and the carpets were soaked in urine.
Mr Hutton thanked North Yorkshire Police for alerting the RSPCA to the situation.
He added: “Both these dogs were skinny and living in awful conditions. The house was full of rubbish and dog faeces.
“We will be able to find them new homes where they are loved and cared for.”
Nelson refused to sign over the dogs to the RSPCA, so the animals were seized by the police.
After, they were taken to a vet for treatment where an examination showed Rocco had a body condition score of one out of nine, which is classed as a state of emaciation.
In a witness statement, the veterinary surgeon said Rocco weighed just 24.3kg and a healthy weight would have been nearer 36kg.
She added: “The lurcher (Smudge) was also very thin. He weighed 17kg and his body condition score was two out of nine. I estimate a healthy weight for him would have been 23kg,”
The vet concluded that both dogs were malnourished and the “state of their accommodation had compromised their health.”
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At an earlier hearing, a charge of failing to ensure the needs of the two dogs were met was also proven in absence against Charlie Nelson.
Nelson, also of Woodfield View, Harrogate, has yet to be sentenced and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.
Both Rocco and Smudge have returned to good health under the care of RSPCA and they will be rehomed when the outstanding court matter is settled.
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