A DOG suffered “appalling” neglect for two months because its owner could not cope with the demands of having a pet and looking after a family, York magistrates heard.

When the RSPCA seized Trip the dog from Melinda Smith, 37, he was in such poor condition he stank of urine, had a skin condition caused by the matted fur that covered it, and an ear infection, said Phil Brown, prosecuting for the animal charity.

A vet who inspected the dog on behalf of the RSPCA said the matting must have been in place for at least two months. “Clearly this dog was found in an appalling state of neglect,” Mr Brown said. “The defendant accepts she didn’t know how to look after the animal.”

Smith, of Ryedale Caravan Site, Osbaldwick Lane, York, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty between January 19 and March 19.

Magistrates gave her a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years. They also disqualified her from looking after any animal for the rest of her life and ordered her to pay £100 towards the prosecution costs and an £80 statutory surcharge.

Smith, crying, told the magistrates: “I couldn’t look after him. My ex ran off and left me and I couldn’t cope with it. I can’t look after him because I have got my kids to look after. You can ban me for life from keeping any animals, I don’t care.”

York magistrates heard basic hygiene rules in keeping dogs had been neglected. The animal was kept in an enclosure without a dry and clean area to lie down on and had had the ear infection for at least a month.

When it was found it weighed 8.3kg, but after seven days of proper care its weight had increased to 9.7 kg.