A cruel couple who left their dogs to starve for months and refused to take them to the vets have been banned from keeping pets for three years.
Laura Butt, 33, and Timothy Wood, 53, fed their four dogs scraps from takeaway meals and left them to fight at their home in Draycott, Derby.
RSPCA inspectors found the animals with protruding bones and 'deep scratches' but the couple refused to take them to the vets, claiming they were 'too busy'.
Butt and Wood pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court.
Butt, who has bipolar disorder, adult ADHD and nervous anxiety, sobbed throughout the hearing.
The charges related to Bear, a six-year-old an Akita type dog, and Molly, a 14-year-old black German Shepherd. Another of the dogs, Roxy, seven, was underweight.
RSPCA officer Helen Mead visited the property numerous times between December 2018 and May 2019.
Prosecutor Richard Purchase said: 'There was a worry at that time that two dogs were underweight. Molly, 14, was thin and Roxy, seven, was underweight. Advice was given that the dogs needed cooked pasta into their dog food and should be taken to the vets.'
By March the dogs had not been taken to the vets because Wood said they were 'very busy'.
The RSPCA inspector attended their home twice that month but could not gain access.
In May, a police officer attended the property with Ms Mead who had 'concerns regarding the state of two dogs'. Bear was found lethargic with protruding hip bones and another dog in the home was 'grumbling' and 'had scabs'.
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Mr Purchase said: 'The fear was that it had a fight with one of the other dogs. The scratches were deep and the dog had not had any treatment.
'Mr Wood said the dogs were fed a lot of food. Ms Mead asked there was any dog food but Mr Wood said no.
'The concern was that the dogs were not being fed on dog food but scrap food from the local takeaway. It would appear the dogs were so thin because of their diet. All four dogs were seized.'
Wood owned three of the dogs while Butt owned Bear. All four dogs are still with the RSPCA.
Defending Wood, Mark Moore said the couple have become 'village pariahs' in Draycott and even the local shop won't serve them.
The Chair of the Bench said: 'These cases are always difficult. That said, whilst we fully respect how the RSPCA brought this case, we and they will have seen much worse cases.
'That is not to minimise the distress you have caused these four dogs. You were incompetent in the care you provided. We also impose a deprivation order for the four dogs.'
The magistrate imposed a fine of £80 per defendant, a victim surcharge of £30 each and RSPCA costs of £400 collectively. Each defendant was charged £310 each.
Both defendants were also disqualified from keeping any dogs for the next three years.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
