Couple Avoids Jail for Neglecting Dog to the Point of Starvation
Sophie Singer, 41, and her ex-partner Keith Byrne, 38, were convicted in their absence of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to ensure his welfare. Bentley, their 14-year-old boxer dog, was found at the foot of the stairs by a neighbor who entered their home after they left for a holiday.
The neighbor found Bentley in a critical condition, with rapid and shallow breathing. When an RSPCA inspector entered the home the next day, Bentley was barely alive. He was covered in scabs and weighed just 12.5kg, less than half the weight of an average boxer.
Despite an untouched bowl of water and dog snacks nearby, there was no food in Bentley’s stomach. Instead, he had turned to eating food wrappers and a felt pen found in his stomach.
Singer and Byrne claimed they had left Bentley in the care of a family friend, but the judge rejected this claim. She criticized their avoidance of court and said that they had shown a complete lack of remorse.
Judge Christine Laing KC said: ‘I find this case really extraordinary. Even as a non-dog owner, I would have seen instantly that this dog was in a terrible state.’
‘He would not have been able to move without being in agony. The ribs showing through his skin you could not have failed to miss. He had scabs and inflammation on his skin you could not have failed to miss.’
Singer and Byrne were sentenced to six and nine months in prison, respectively, suspended for two years. They have also been banned from keeping animals for five years and must pay costs of £350 each. Singer must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work, while Byrne must do 300 hours.
