South Yorkshire mother and son avoid jail over shocking animal cruelty

A South Yorkshire mother and son have avoided jail after they neglected their pet dog who developed serious skin and eye infections.
A mother and son from Barnsley, have been disqualified from keeping all animals for five years after their white American bulldog called Buster was found suffering with painful eye and skin conditionsA mother and son from Barnsley, have been disqualified from keeping all animals for five years after their white American bulldog called Buster was found suffering with painful eye and skin conditions
A mother and son from Barnsley, have been disqualified from keeping all animals for five years after their white American bulldog called Buster was found suffering with painful eye and skin conditions

Susan Smith, aged 54 and her son Brad Smith, 24 of John Street, Great Houghton, were handed a 12-month community order and were banned from keeping any animal for five years.

They were both ordered to pay £375 costs and a victim surcharge of £60 totalling £435 each to be paid at a rate of £20 per month.

A mother and son from Barnsley, have been disqualified from keeping all animals for five years after their white American bulldog called Buster was found suffering with painful eye and skin conditionsA mother and son from Barnsley, have been disqualified from keeping all animals for five years after their white American bulldog called Buster was found suffering with painful eye and skin conditions
A mother and son from Barnsley, have been disqualified from keeping all animals for five years after their white American bulldog called Buster was found suffering with painful eye and skin conditions
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Barnsley Magistrates’ court heard the cruel pair had failed to take their American bulldog Buster to the vets when he developed his conditions.

His situation deteriorated and the RSPCA then got involved.

A vet confirmed that ten month-old Buster had been caused unnecessary suffering due to his owners failing to seek adequate treatment for a severe skin condition called demodectic mange, which caused inflammation to his skin.

The dogs eyes were the cause of most of his suffering due to his eyelids turning inwards, a condition known as bilateral entropion.

Susan Smith and her son Brad Smith from John Street, Great Houghton were sentenced at Barnsley Magistrates court - Picture: GoogleSusan Smith and her son Brad Smith from John Street, Great Houghton were sentenced at Barnsley Magistrates court - Picture: Google
Susan Smith and her son Brad Smith from John Street, Great Houghton were sentenced at Barnsley Magistrates court - Picture: Google

They had previously pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two offences each of failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care and attention for Buster’s demodectic mange, secondary skin and eye infections

Buster has now been happily re-homed.

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RSPCA inspector Jo Taylor said: “It was heartbreaking to find Buster in this terrible condition.

“His owners were aware of his demodectic mange, and stopped providing treatment for it. Bilateral entropion is an extremely painful condition.

“It was clear to anyone that Buster was suffering and needed further veterinary treatment.”