CARMARTHEN: Man banned from keeping animals for a decade after dog found tied to a tree at Christmas

A Carmarthen man has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after his elderly dog was found tied to a tree with severe untreated skin disease two days after Christmas.

David Allen Murphy, 40, of Quay Street, Carmarthen, was handed an 18-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, when he appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Friday 24 July.

He had pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Cora, a collie cross German shepherd, by failing to investigate and address her skin disease over a month between late November and late December last year.

Alongside the suspended sentence and the 10-year ban, Murphy was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity days, and to pay £600 costs and a £150 victim surcharge.

The court heard Cora was found tied to a tree on 27 December and taken to a vet by police, having been seen with Murphy shortly beforehand.

In a written statement, RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben said that when he saw Cora she had “an obvious skin condition with hair loss on its neck and lower back”, and photographs taken when police recovered her showed bald patches before she was clipped at the vets.

A vet’s statement described an elderly dog who was “very itchy with severe skin disease”, with scabbed dermatitis on both flanks, chronic changes around her ears, thickened skin indicating a long-standing problem, and multiple masses on her body.

The vets clipped and cleaned the affected areas with antibacterial and antifungal shampoo, treated her in case fleas or mites were involved, applied soothing cream to the worst areas and started her on steroids to relieve the constant itching, the statement said.

The vet said it would have taken “weeks to months” for Cora to reach that condition, and that she “will have suffered unnecessarily for that entire time” — physically through the constant irritation, and mentally through her inability to relieve it.

Failing to seek veterinary attention for an obvious health issue, the vet added, meant her owner had failed in his duty of care.

In mitigation, the court heard Murphy loved the dog and had drug issues. He also admitted failing to surrender under the Bail Act, for which there was no separate penalty.

Speaking after sentencing, Inspector Hogben said: “Every animal deserves to be treated with kindness and respect and if you have a pet you are responsible for making sure they are happy and healthy.

“We would urge anyone struggling to seek help.”

Cora’s skin has now recovered well, and she is being cared for by Hope Rescue in Llanharan.