Nottinghamshire couple banned from keeping dogs after neglecting pet with tumour

A Nottinghamshire couple who allowed their pet dog to suffer preventable harm by not taking him to a vet for seven years have been banned from keeping dogs.

Adrian and Debbie Hawkins, of Westland Avenue in Hucknall, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a male terrier called Archie when they appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on August 23.

WARNING: This article contains graphic images.

The pair neglected to provide veterinary treatment for an ulcerated discharging tumour, which affected Archie’s muzzle and led to him suffering pain between December 2022 and February 2023.

RSPCA officers were called after 16-year-old Archie was taken to a vet to be euthanised.

However, the vet was concerned the couple’s neglect amounted to an animal welfare offence due to the large tumour, necrotic dental disease and “very poor” overall health.

The court heard the owners were “remorseful” for their actions and that the dog’s treatment was not deliberate cruelty, but neglect.

Mr Hawkins also claimed he provided Archie with 24-hour care and would bathe his mouth.

‘Disturbed’

RSPCA inspector Pamela Bird, who examined the dog’s body, said: “The smell of infection was overwhelming.

“I observed a hole in the right side of Archie’s face which had pus and tissue dripping out of it. The skin was falling off around the nose.

“I opened the dog’s mouth and could clearly see very few, blackened teeth surrounded by smelly infected tissue, oozing pus.

“I felt the dog’s body and I could clearly feel ribs, spine and pelvis protruding sharply. The dog’s facial fur was matted and there was pus in the dog’s eyes.

“All the dog’s claws were long and curled around.

“I immediately took the view that it would be obvious to any reasonable person that this dog was severely underweight with obvious facial infection.”

A vet who examined Archie said they “felt disturbed” when they saw the dog’s condition and this “quickly turned into sadness and frustration”.

The vet added: “I felt that he must have had a prolonged amount of time of suffering before being brought in for euthanasia. His condition both overall and due to the extent and progression of the mass showed neglect.”

They had been told that Archie had not been taken to a vet since 2015.

‘Suffering was obvious’

The vet concluded Archie had been through “prolonged suffering” due to a lack of medical care, suffering pain, nausea, lethargy, discomfort and irritation, having been in poor health for at least six weeks, if not longer.

The pair were both disqualified from keeping dogs for five years.

Mr Hawkins, 58, was fined £1,723, ordered to pay a £689 surcharge and costs of £150. Mrs Hawkins, 57, was fined £320, ordered to pay a £128 surcharge and £150 costs.

Speaking after the verdict, inspector Bird said: “We as pet owners have a responsibility to do the right thing for our animals. Sadly this was not the case for poor Archie.

“A vet said his suffering could have been prevented or managed through routine healthcare at best and as a minimum, by a check-up when the mass grew and burst.

“It would not take any medical or veterinary expertise to see Archie was suffering and should have been taken to a vet sooner.”