|
|
|
Man in UK convicted for having obese dog |
|
Thursday, 14 May 2009 |
 A man in the United Kingdom named Ronald West, has been convicted of animal neglect after authorities received a complaints about his five-year-old dog being severely overweight. Authorities discovered the case of neglect in December 2008 when a neighbor complained that his Border Collie Taz appeared to be too fat.
When authorities arrived to West's residence, they found Taz's feces scattered around the house and in every room. Authorities made several more visits to West's home until March 2009. They had found no improvements in living conditions and seized the dog. West had said he had been ill with the flu and was unable to clean up after Taz or take him for walks. He admits that he and his friends overfed Taz which led to his obesity, but West says it was not intentional.
"I'll put my hands up and say I'm guilty of [Taz] being overweight, but it wasn't deliberate. You can be cruel with kindness," said West in March, according to the police report. Taz weighed 88lbs (40kg) when authorities seized him.
West's sentencing has been postponed because he failed to appear at today's hearing. When sentenced, West could face a fine of up to £5,000 (US$7,581), six months in prison, and may be forbidden from owning any pets. Information from: Wikinews, http://www.wikinews.org Image: Wikinews |
|
