21 Apr Five year animal ban for man whose puppy nearly died from emaciation
A man has been banned from keeping animals for five years and sentenced to ten weeks custody suspended for 12 months after neglecting his puppy until she nearly starved to death.
Siem Tamrat (DOB: 9.9.2000) of Mereton Mansions, Brookmill Road, London, failed to provide three month old American Bulldog puppy Nala with adequate food and water. She was presented to PDSA vets in a state of emaciation on 29 November 2022.
Nala had been taken to the vets on November 15, with a history of being underweight. At that appointment she weighed 10.6kg. Tamrat was advised to feed an appropriate diet of complete puppy food three times a day and return two weeks later.
When she was taken back to the vets she weighed just 7.7kg and was subdued, barely able to stand, with muscles shaking, and standing with her head down. The bones of her head, limbs, spine, ribs and pelvis were easily visible.
Tamrat was advised that Nala required intensive supportive treatment given her very poor condition. He initially refused but then left the vet surgery to withdraw funds for treatment and failed to return.
The RSPCA were called to seize Nala along with police and investigate animal welfare offences. RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday attended the vet practice and described Nala as: “Curled in a ball, on a drip, in her kennel and did not respond to noise or my voice. She did not respond when opening up her kennel and I had to gently lift her out and get support to hold her up in order to photograph her as she could not stand unaided. She was extremely underweight with all her ribs, her pelvis and spine easily visible. She was very roach backed and unsteady on her feet swaying back and forth and shaking. She was extremely lethargic and struggled to keep her eyes open. Her entire demeanour was the opposite of what you expect from a three month old puppy.”
Thankfully, Nala (pictured above in new home) has made a full recovery under PDSA care and has since been adopted.
Tamrat, who pleaded not guilty to the animal welfare offence, was also sentenced to 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and a £154 victim surcharge when he was sentenced at Thames Magistrates Court on 12 April.
In mitigation, his defence lawyer said his autism and ADHD adversely affected his thinking and reasoning skills.
