RYAN STEPHENS – CAERPHILLY CONVICTED | Ryan Stephens, 29, from Risca, Caerphill…

❌RYAN STEPHENS – CAERPHILLY❌

CONVICTED | Ryan Stephens, 29, from Risca, Caerphilly – failed to provide veterinary care for his dog’s severe skin condition and flea infestation.

Stephens pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a female bulldog called Loona after ignoring a condition that caused her to lose all of her fur.

In a witness statement provided to the court, RSPCA Inspector Sian Burton said: “She was extremely pleased to see people but she had very little fur over her body and only really a patch left on the back of her neck.

“Her skin was thickened, smelt yeasty, the skin on her legs looked like saggy tights and she was extremely itchy.

“Loona tried to rub herself against my legs and anything else she could get to.

“Her skin was very warm to touch and she had visible scabs over her face and body from where she had been scratching herself.”

Sian was given permission to take Loona to a vet, who confirmed that she had been suffering for months.

Gwent Police were called and Loona was transferred into the care of the RSPCA and taken to their Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic to begin treatment.

In a statement the vet said: “She was started on steroid to start reducing the inflammation and discomfort from the skin, antibiotics for the secondary skin infection, anti-parasite medication to kill the skin mites and a prescription shampoo to start reducing the bacterial and yeast skin loads back to a normal level.

“To get to this level of changes within the skin would take months, I would say that Loona had been suffering with these skin problems for at least four months if not longer to deteriorate to how she was when I saw her.”

In mitigation it was heard Stephens was caring for a relative and should have done more, but was going through “a difficult time”.

Loona has since made a full recovery and is ready to be rehomed.

Sentencing | fined £200 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and £700 towards RSPCA costs. ONE-year ban.