AN agoraphobic woman was yesterday banned from keeping dogs for five years after one of her pets became so fat it was almost twice the normal weight for its breed.

An RSPCA inspector described the female doberman belonging to Angela Harland, 36, as the most overweight dog he had ever seen.

It weighed 65kg when it was signed over to the RSPCA. The correct weight for a female of that breed is about 35kg.

Harland appeared at Darlington Magistrates’ Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to causing three dogs unnecessary suffering between June 1 and August 8, last year.

Kevin Campbell, prosecuting, said: “A vet examined the dogs and confirmed that the doberman was extremely obese, which led to it having an abnormal stance.

“The second dog, a springer spaniel, was slightly overweight.

When the vet examined it, they found sweets stuck in her coat.

“The third dog, a King Charles spaniel, had severe problems with its eyes and the vet also noticed problems with its mouth that had not been properly treated.”

All three dogs were voluntarily signed over to the RSPCA in February and are receiving treatment.

Alan Meehan, in mitigation, said Harland’s former partner was responsible for exercising the dogs, but a breakdown in that relationship helped bring about agoraphobia, a condition in which people fear open spaces, making it hard for her to leave the house.

Mr Meehan said: “When I first spoke to her, she told me about her mental and physical health problems.

“I said it seemed as though she was trying to juggle too many balls.

“On this occasion, she dropped one of the balls.”

Harland, of Milbank Road, Darlington, was given a conditional discharge for two years and banned from keeping dogs for five.