A DOG owner was jailed for two months yesterday after allowing one animal to die and leaving another emaciated.

Durham Magistrates' Court heard that Tracy Turnbull, 41, of Oxhill Villas, New Kyo, Stanley, County Durham, inherited her partner's Staffordshire bull terrier cross breed and Doberman cross breed last year, following the couple's break-up.

She kept them at allotments at Unity Terrace, New Kyo, as her landlord did not allow them to be kept in the house.

When RSPCA inspector Gavin Butterfield visited the site on January 5 he found the Doberman dead and the bull terrier severely emaciated.

Prosecuting, John Flynn told the hearing that the dogs were less than half the normal weight for their breeds.

He said: "The dog which was alive weighed 6.15kg. She was given a small amount of food, which she ate in a ravenous manner.

"The stomach of the dead dog contained only hair and no food could be found around the internal organs."

Mr Flynn said that the vet who examined the dogs found that they had both been victims of "prolonged inadequate nutrition".

William Davison, defending, said that Turnbull, a mother-of-one, had been left with a £4,000 debt by her partner, and had also been under pressure from the illness and subsequent death of her mother.

"It's a case where a woman in very difficult circumstances closed her eyes to what was going on," he said.

Turnbull pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering. She was sentenced to three months' in prison for each, reduced to two months to run concurrently.

Mr Butterfield said: "In terms of neglect, it's as bad as it could be. I hope the sentence sends a message to others."