A COUPLE were banned from keeping animals for life after admitting neglecting their pet dog.

Gordon Pollock, 40, and his wife Tina, both of Wrensfield Road, Stockton, Teesside, each admitted a charge of causing an animal unnecessary suffering at Teesside Magistrates Court yesterday.

Amanda Baker, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court the couple were first warned on January 23, last year, that their sandy lurcher bitch, called Cass, was under weight, and they were given advice about nutrition and feeding of the animal.

In November, the couple gave the dog to a neighbour who contacted the RSPCA. Cass was found to be severely emaciated with its shoulders, ribs and hips all prominent.

It was also found to be infested with fleas, suffering from skin lesions and had diseased gums.

Mrs Baker said the couple had caused unnecessary suffering "for a period of months rather than weeks", and that they had known the dog was in bad condition and needed to go to the vet. She said it was the second dog the couple had given away.

Peter Wishlade, for the couple, said they had never been in trouble before and admitted the matter at the first available opportunity.

He said Mrs Pollock, 38, was a chronic alcoholic and regularly spent between £5 and £10 a day on alcohol.

Mr Wishlade said the couple had given the dog to a neighbour because they knew they could not cope, and they accepted the dog had been neglected.

He said the dog had now made a full recovery and had a new home.

The magistrates told the couple that if Cass had died they would have been sent to prison, and called their crime "despicable".

They banned the couple, who have four children, from keeping animals for life, fined them each £250 and ordered them to pay £75 prosecution costs each.