Essex man banned from keeping animals for 10 years
He left his dog emaciated and suffering from untreated skin disease and pressure sores
A man from Jaywick has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after he left his dog to suffer for at least two weeks.
70 year old Dennis Stephen Ramsey of Gorse Way was convicted of two offences under the Animal Welfare Act relating to Ruby, a Dogue de Bordeaux.
Ruby was found to be emaciated and was left suffering from untreated skin disease and pressure sores.
The court heard that Ruby was taken to the RSPCA Essex Mid & North Branch in Colchester on 26 February 2025, as an emergency case, by Mr Ramsey’s son and a friend - who requested euthanasia.
The veterinary surgeon who examined Ruby said she was “barely responsive, emaciated and exceedingly weak” on arrival. She weighed just 28kg, having lost 14kg since her previous visit in January 2024. A healthy adult female Dogue de Bordeaux should weigh around 45-60kg.
Ruby’s body condition score was one out of nine - a healthy dog should score between four and five - and her coat was dirty and unkempt.
A veterinary nurse at the clinic told the court she immediately saw that Ruby was in a poor condition on arrival - the emaciated dog walked slowly into the clinic before collapsing on the waiting room floor.
“Every bone in her body was visible and she had a large open ulcer to her left elbow. The right elbow had thickened skin and fur loss,” she said.
“She was struggling to breathe due to crusting over her nose that was covering her airways, and she had faeces stuck to the underside of her tail.”
Based on the veterinary evidence, the court heard that Ruby would have suffered for at least a two-week period, becoming progressively weaker and dehydrated, and experiencing discomfort from sore, infected skin.
Ruby was humanely euthanised to prevent any further suffering.
The court was told Ramsey expressed remorse, cited his mental health and age, and said he had “tried his best”.
He was sentenced to 26 weeks’ custody on each offence, to run concurrently, suspended for 12 months. Magistrates imposed a disqualification order banning Ramsey from keeping all animals for 10 years. He was also ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge and £500 in costs.
Following the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Rebecca Yarrow, who investigated the case, said: “Ruby was in an extremely poor condition by the time she was brought to the clinic. As pet owners, we have a legal responsibility to ensure our animals receive appropriate veterinary care when they are unwell.
“Ruby’s condition should never have been allowed to deteriorate to this extent and it’s tragic that her last days and weeks were spent in pain. Seeking help at an earlier stage would have prevented significant suffering for Ruby and could have prevented euthanasia.”