A YOUNG mum has been banned from keeping animals for five years after a court heard she underfed a pet dog.
RSPCA officers attended the home of Tanya Lumsden after a call from a worried member of the public.
They found an emaciated female German shepherd with matted hair.
RSPCA solicitor, Clive McKeag, said officers took away the black and tan dog, w
ith tests by a vet showing it weighed less than 20 per cent of the normal body weight for a dog of its age.
Lumsden, 32, admitted causing suffering to the dog between August 10 and September 10, 2007.
Defending, Peter Thubron said Lumsden, of The Kings Road, Southwick, was looking after the dog, which had belonged to Steven Turner, after he was made homeless.
But she had struggled to find time for the animal, known as Tiger.
Mr Thubron said: "You have heard about a young mum living on her own, with five children age 15 to three years old. She has to attend regular hospital appointments with two of the children.
"She did have the dog when it was a puppy, but when she became pregnant with one of the children, because of hospital appointments and such like, she could not be responsible for the dog.
"She gave it to Steven Turner about two years ago, but when he became homeless after a house fire, he brought it back a couple of months ago. He said he would come and see her and feed her until he got his own place."
Charges against Mr Turner were dropped by the RSPCA on the day of the hearing as he is serving a prison term at HMP Durham.
Lumsden admitted in interview she only gave the dog one tin of food a day, but Mr Thubron said she didn't realise how thin it was until she was brushing it shortly before the RSPCA arrived.
Magistrates fined Lumsden £200 and ordered she make a contribution to RSPCA costs of £400, plus a £15 victim surcharge.
She was banned from keeping animals for five years, and ownership of the dog was transferred to the RSPCA.
The full article contains 360 words and appears in Sunderland Echo newspaper.
