Suspended sentences over dog's 'awful' death

A COUPLE from Hull have been given suspended prison sentences after allowing their pet dog to die a "truly awful" death when he was strangled by his own chain.

Jason Edwards, 37, and Stephanie Chapman, 26, of Ledbury Road, had been advised by the RSPCA how to tether their black and tan cross-breed Buster just eight days before he died in their back yard. The dog was being restrained by a "choke" chain but jumped over a fence and could not support himself on the other side, leading to a slow death by strangulation.

He was found hanging by the chain just over a week after the couple had been told to either shorten the lead or raise the height of the fence.

They raised the fence but not enough.

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The couple were found guilty in their absence of causing unnecessary suffering to Buster, but appeared before Hull Magistrates' Court for sentencing.

They were each given a six-month jail term suspended for a year, ordered to carry out 180 hours of community service, pay costs of 600 and were banned from keeping dogs for five years.

After the hearing, RSPCA Inspector Hannah Bryer said Buster said the couple were responsible for Buster suffering an agonising death.

She said: "This dog died a truly awful death because of his owners' negligence.

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Veterinary evidence suggested he had suffered severely for minutes, not seconds, as he struggled to breathe.

"The couple had been visited by the RSPCA just days earlier when they were advised to alter the way Buster was tethered to avoid this happening."

The charity said it was "unacceptable" restrain dogs with choke chains, given their tendency to run from side to side until the chain comes to its full length.

Insp Bryer added: "What happened here is very sad but it certainly could have been avoided. If Buster's owners had taken his welfare seriously Buster would still be here."

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