11/06/2026
🚨COUPLE AVOID JAIL AFTER STARVING DOG IN ONE FOR WORST CASES RSPCA HAVE SEEN
Coventry Couple Banned From Keeping Animals After Starving Dog
A Coventry couple have been banned from keeping animals for ten years after their dog was found severely underweight and suffering from starvation.
Simon Short, 49, and Leanne Louise Wright, 37, were sentenced at Coventry Magistrates' Court after admitting offences under the Animal Welfare Act. The pair were also handed 18-month community orders.
The case came to light after RSPCA inspectors visited the couple's former address in Middlesborough Road, Coventry, following concerns about the welfare of a Cane Corso-type dog named Sofia.
During the inspection, RSPCA Inspector Ben Jones found Sofia in an extremely emaciated condition, with her ribs, spine and pelvis clearly visible. The dog had recently given birth to a litter of eight puppies, seven of which had already been sold by the owners.
According to the RSPCA, Short and Wright claimed the dog had been given to them by drug dealers around eight weeks earlier and said they had been unaware she was pregnant until she gave birth.
Concerned by Sofia's condition, inspectors arranged for her to be examined by veterinary staff at Newbrook Farm Animal Hospital after the owners agreed to sign her over to the charity.
A veterinary examination revealed Sofia had a body condition score of just one out of nine, indicating severe malnourishment. The vet estimated the dog had lost around 15 per cent of her ideal body weight and concluded that she had suffered unnecessarily from starvation for at least two weeks, and likely much longer.
The vet explained that while nursing dogs can lose weight while feeding puppies, owners are expected to provide a higher-calorie diet to meet increased nutritional demands. Sofia's condition was found to be far below acceptable standards.
Evidence presented to the court stated that the dog must have experienced either complete or significant calorie restriction over an extended period to reach such a critical state. The vet also concluded that her owners had failed to provide an appropriate diet and had not sought veterinary advice when her condition deteriorated.
Following treatment and a structured feeding plan, Sofia's health improved significantly, and her body condition returned to an acceptable level within a few weeks.
At sentencing, Short received an 18-month Community Order, 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £350 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
Wright was given an 18-month Community Order with 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, fined £180, and ordered to pay £350 in costs along with a £114 victim surcharge.
Both defendants are now prohibited from keeping animals for the next decade.
