Veterinary staff left in tears after seeing state of Staffordshire Bull Terrier whose owner starved him to death

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A dog owner who allowed his Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Delboy to starve has been spared jail but banned from keeping any animal for 10 years.

Paul Roberts, 42, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, namely that he failed to ensure the dog was provided with adequate nutrition and failed to investigate and address his poor condition and weight loss.

The RSPCA, in a statement issued after a sentencing hearing, said veterinary staff were left distressed by Delboy's 'emaciated' state after the dog was taken to a practice in Manchester.

The charity said Delboy, an eight-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, had suffered for up to 12 weeks. READ MORE: 'They came to my house and ran up the stairs': Partner of man battered to death picked out alleged murderer in ID parade, jury told READ MORE: 'He has done it again': Man with self-proclaimed 'dark side' SPARED jail Roberts, of Broadoak Road, Wythenshawe, was prosecuted by the RSPCA after Delboy was taken dead to a veterinary practice in the area on February 22 last year.