A Huntingdonshire woman has been disqualified from keeping animals for life after starving her puppy to death.

Davina Carla Wallace, of St Ives Road, Woodhurst, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday September 3 to be sentenced for one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to her puppy, called Ruby, after failing to provide her with adequate nutrition.

She had previously pleaded guilty to the offence, under the Animal Welfare Act.

Wallace was sentenced to an 18-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was fined £120 and ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge.

She was also disqualified from keeping all animals for life - and can’t appeal this for three years.

The RSPCA was made aware of concerns for Wallace’s puppy and tried to visit her home. On November 19 she responded to a calling card that had been left at her home, and spoke to an RSPCA officer saying her dog was sick, she was unable to cope and wanted to sign her over.

Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Jack Curran said in a witness statement: “In my conversation with [her] she stated she had not yet checked on the puppy but it’s very unwell and she checked on the dog whilst I was on the phone.

“She stated the puppy is very unwell and not moving, then stated she didn't know whether the dog was still alive. I asked if she could get the dog to a vets and she stated she couldn't.”

ARO Curran arrived at the location to sadly find the puppy dead in a crate. His statement added: “The dog was in a crate, located in the lounge/kitchen area of the caravan.

“The puppy was deceased in the crate, there was no food or water in the crate, there was a blanket but it was very dirty.

“There was a large build-up of faeces in and around the outside of the crate.

“The puppy was a black and tan dog, roughly the size of a cat, in very poor condition.

“I could see the dog's ribs, spine and hip bones protruding the body, and the dog also had a large build-up of discharge around its eyes.”

Wallace told ARO Curran that she was called Ruby but she didn’t know how old she was or what breed she was, and that a friend had given her to her four weeks earlier.

The officer took Ruby to a vet to be examined. Vets determined she’d died within the last 24 hours and RSPCA Inspector Dean Astilberry took on the case to investigate.

A vet who assessed the body estimated her to be between three and four-months-old and described her as ‘emaciated’ with a body condition score of one out of nine (the lowest possible).

In his witness statement, he said: “The post-mortem examination showed severe emaciation consistent with starvation, and the presence of mild pneumonia and enteritis that may have contributed to the emaciation.”

The court heard how Wallace had struggled with mental health problems and was supported by a social worker.

In mitigation, the court was told she’d not been taking her medication at the time and wasn’t looking after herself or her dog, but she’s now taking her medication and is receiving more support in sheltered accommodation.

(Image: RSPCA)