Starving dog named Bandit left to rot in her own faeces is rescued by authorities – as neglectful owner blames DEPRESSION for the puppy’s skinny state
- An emaciated dog named Bandit was found living in its own faeces on veranda
- RSPCA rescued the pooch from Cranbrook property in QLD in December 2019
- Dog only had mouldy water to drink: Owner said dog was simply depressed
A neglectful pet owner was fined $1,200 for leaving her starving dog named ‘Bandit’ to live in its own faeces while tied to a lead on the family’s back veranda.
Jay Leanne Watson, 37, surrendered Bandit to the RSPCA after the court heard an emaciated blue-merle coloured Louisiana Catahoula Leopard type dog was living in dire conditions at a Cranbrook property in Queensland on December 7, 2019.
The mother-of-six alleged to inspectors that Bandit was skinny because she was ‘depressed’ despite being fed, the Townsville Bulletin reported.
An emaciated dog named Bandit was found living in its own faeces on a back veranda in QLD
The RSPCA said the sickly pooch had been ‘tethered on the concrete for an extended period of time.’
‘She was unable to display normal patterns of behaviour or move freely,’ the RSPCA said.
‘The area surrounding Bandit’s tether was covered in faeces which appeared to have built up over an extended period of time, as some pieces had begun to grow mould.’
The animal welfare organisation said while there was water nearby in a cooking pot it was also covered in black mould.
RSPCA rescued the pooch from Cranbrook property in Queensland when Bandit weighed only 25.9kgs (pictured)
Bandit reportedly weighed 25.9kg when the RSPCA rescued the pooch – before increasing her body weight to 35kg just a month later.
The vet who examined the dog said the ‘level of emaciation of Bandit would have taken place over many months as she has a nail condition, dental diseases and poor coat’.
The starved pet also had a bilateral ear infection, ticks and a mild fever.
Magistrate Kenneth Taylor charged Watson with breaching the Animal Care and Protection Act for failing to feed and treat animals.
She was also charged with failing to provide living conditions and was ordered to pay $805.73 in costs alongside a three-year prohibition order.
No convictions were recorded for the incident.
The vet who examined the dog (pictured) said the ‘level of emaciation of Bandit would have taken place over many months as she has a nail condition, dental diseases and poor coat’