A WOMAN faces a prison sentence after she admitted neglecting her two pet dogs when she appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Shelley Atkinson, of Almond Court, Shildon, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs.

The court heard that the two animals, a black and white terrier-cross and a tan lurcher-cross, were taken to Hobo's Animal Rescue, in Evenwood, after a woman found them at the roadside near Bishop Auckland.

The owners of the rescue centre were so concerned about the condition of the dogs that they called the RSPCA.

RSPCA Inspector Gavin Butterfield took the dogs to a veterinary surgery where they were found to be drastically underweight, riddled with fleas and showed signs of anaemia and scabies.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting, said: "The state of the dogs showed they had not been given food or water for several weeks.

"After about five weeks in RSPCA care the terrier went from 7.15kg to 13.2kg and the lurcher from 12kg to 20kg, their ideal weight."

He also said medical records for the lurcher showed Atkinson, 29, had taken it to Wilson's Veterinary Surgery, in Bishop Auckland, after it was hit by a car as a puppy but failed to turn up for subsequent appointments and refused hospitalisation.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until February 26 and granted Atkinson bail.