A DRUG addict who admitted causing unnecessary suffering to his dog has been banned from keeping animals for ten years.
At Teesside Magistrates' Court yesterday, Shaun Handley, 20, of Grange Road, Thornaby, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to his Jack Russell, Rusty, between October 1 and 31, last year.
Simon Catterell, prosecuting, said neighbours called the RSPCA after hearing a dog constantly barking in the house in Langley Avenue, Thornaby, where Handley used to live.
Mr Catterell said: "When they found the dog, its ribs were visible, it was clearly underweight and in need of a vet's attention. When offered food and water, it devoured everything."
In mitigation, Nick Woodhouse said Handley was addicted to heroin and spent all of his money on drugs, so could not afford to feed the dog.
As well as the ban, Handley was ordered to pay £100 costs.
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