A dead dog was found in a "terrible state of neglect" when its owner took it to the vet's, a court heard.

Georgina Pollard, 35, took the pekinese to Colne Valley vets, Colchester, wrapped in a sheet.

"She asked the nurse whether someone could confirm whether the dog was deceased," said Alison Underhill, prosecuting for the RSPCA.

"The nurse said it was immediately obvious the dog was dead and in a terrible state of neglect," she told Colchester magistrates.

The court heard the dog's hair was matted and parts of its body was crawling with maggots.

A vet who examined the dead dog - called Sandy - said rigor mortis had already set in.

Pollard, of Willett Road, Shrub End, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The court heard Sandy and its brother Bruce, who were both 15, had belonged to Pollard's father. She started looking after the dogs when her father died five years ago.

Sandy could be aggressive, which made it difficult to clip its hair, and it was expensive to keep paying the vet to do it.

Anna Perera, mitigating, said: "It wasn't deliberately maltreated. The family were not able to deal with it because of its aggressive behaviour."

She told the court Pollard was "traumatised" by what happened, adding: "She was very fond of Sandy and is very fond of the other dog because of what they meant to her father."

They sentenced Pollard to 100 hours community punishment and banned her from keeping animals for three years. She was also ordered to pay more than £735 costs.

Speaking afterwards, RSPCA inspector Jim Farr said: "There was no excuse for the state of that dog. By not allowing that dog proper access to a vet, Pollard was being cruel."

Published Monday, April 28, 2003

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