A DOG had to have its eye removed after it was attacked by another dog and left without treatment for days, a court heard yesterday.

Bishop Auckland magistrates were told that owner Sybil Smith, of Adamson Street, Shildon, could not afford the vet's fees and had tried to heal the "badly infected" injury herself, by giving the pet left-over antibiotics.

She pleaded guilty to causing the Japanese Chin dog unnecessary suffering.

Michael Clarke, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said an inspector had called at Smith's home on November 14 last year, following an anonymous tip-off.

"He saw a small black and white dog. Its left eye was hugely swollen and appeared almost to be out of the socket," he said.

He said Smith, 46, had initially told the inspector that the pet, called Des, had been to the vet, but that proved to be untrue.

The dog was later examined by a vet, who concluded that the injury had been left for several days. It was badly infected, and the dog was underweight.

The dog had to have its eye removed and was placed in a foster home.

Bruce Cunningham, mitigating, said Smith had contacted a vet, but was told the bill would be £500.

"She is a single parent on benefit, and there was no way she could afford that," he said.

The case was adjourned until Monday, February 19, for a pre-sentence report