A Crewe man has been given 10-year ban on owning animals after failing to care for two dogs, leaving them severely underweight, with one so emaciated he collapsed and had to be put to sleep.

Phillip David Walsh, 40, of Market Street, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his two dogs, under the Animal Welfare Act in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

Crewe Magistrates Court heard how RSPCA Inspector Nadine Pengilly attended Walsh's address on 21 November 2024 after a report from a local vet, who had examined Walsh's male bull-breed dog called Duke following a collapse.

Phillip David Walsh, 40, of Market Street, was sentenced at Crewe Magistrates' Court (Nub News).

Duke was so thin that his bones were visible, with the vet describing him as "severely emaciated" with a body condition score of zero out of nine - the lowest possible. A healthy dog should score around five.

Duke was also severely dehydrated and due to his poor state, the decision was made to euthanise him to prevent further suffering. 

In a statement to the court, the vet who examined Duke said: "He [Walsh] said that his dog hadn't been very well for a few days and he had been losing weight for the past four weeks.

"He said the dog was eating and drinking OK and that he did not have any vomiting or diarrhoea. He said he had only owned the dog a couple of months as the dog's original owner was currently in prison. 

"Duke was very cold and did not move at all from the table. I tried to take his temperature but it did not read on the thermometer. You could see every bone in his body."

Post-mortem results showed that Duke's death was likely due to prolonged starvation, with no medical condition found that could explain his extreme weight loss.

The RSPCA were called to investigate following Walsh's admission to the vet that there was another skinny dog at his property.  

Nadine found Queenie, a female bull breed at the property. She was also severely emaciated, with her spine, ribs and hip bones clearly showing, with a body condition score of just one to two. She also had untreated fleas, overgrown nails, and no water available in her enclosure.

Female bull breed 'Queenie' was also found at the Crewe property,

In a statement to the court, Nadine said that Walsh had shown her an open bag of food he had for the two dogs. 

She said: "There were no blankets or bedding as he told me she chewed them up. There were two metal bowls inside this cage that were both empty.

"There was no water available so I asked Walsh to put some in one of the empty bowls, which he did. 

"He told me he only had £50 to help get Duke to the vets and that he had no more money left to help Queenie." 

Queenie was immediately removed from the property and taken for urgent veterinary care at the RSPCA's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.

Vets later confirmed she was suffering from malnutrition and neglect. She weighed just 21.4kg.

In a statement, an RSPCA vet said: "The owner of Duke and Queenie did not meet their demands for an adequate diet, and both dogs suffered due to their underweight condition.

"I would expect a reasonable owner to see that live fleas and flea dirt were present and that both dogs were in a very poor body condition, prompting the need for early veterinary intervention.

Queenie was immediately removed Phillip David Walsh's property and taken for urgent veterinary care at the RSPCA's Greater Manchester Animal Hospital (RSPCA).

"Based on the findings of the post-mortem report for Duke, the poor body condition could possibly have developed over a minimum two weeks, likely longer due to the severity of their condition.

"For Queenie, the poor body condition is also likely to have developed over a similar time period. 

"Poor body condition can negatively impact welfare due to feelings of lethargy, weakness and hunger. This can limit the ability of a dog to perform normal behaviours and play, resulting in mental suffering.

"An underweight animal may be unable to interact normally with their environment or their social partners, which can affect their overall happiness and ability to thrive." 

Thankfully, following treatment and care from the RSPCA, Queenie gained weight and has gone on to become a healthy dog. She was later rehomed via the RSPCA's Bryn-y-Maen animal centre.

As well as being banned from owning animals for 10 years, Walsh was also handed an 18-month community order, 20 RAR days and 120 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £400 in court costs, to be deducted from his benefits.

In mitigation, the court hearing on July 15 heard Walsh had lost his job and was struggling financially.

Inspector Nadine Pengilly, who led the investigation for the RSPCA, said: "It is heartbreaking to think how much these dogs suffered - and for how long.

"When owners take on animals, they have a legal duty to meet their welfare needs, which includes providing a suitable diet, access to veterinary care and a safe environment. Both dogs were let down badly."

The RSPCA is urging anyone struggling to care for their animals to seek help and advice before problems escalate.

Nadine added: "Please never ignore an animal in need. There is help out there, charities, vets and organisations can offer advice and support. No animal should be left to suffer like this."

READ MORE: Night-time nosh guide: The 10 latest opening eateries in Crewe.

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