A man has been banned from keeping animals for life after causing his dog to suffer.

Edward Stokes, of Woodrush Close, Beanhill, Milton Keynes, was sentenced at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court on November 11.

He was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a spaniel-type female dog, named Puppy2, by not providing necessary veterinary care for her chronic skin condition.

The court gave him a lifetime ban on owning animals, which he cannot appeal for five years.

He was also ordered to complete a 12-month community order, including 10 Rehabilitation Action Requirement days and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement, and to pay £300 in costs.

(Image: RSPCA)

Puppy2 was found wandering by a member of the public in July 2023 and was taken to a vet for treatment.

She was found near Stokes' home and was microchipped to him.

Inspector Andy Eddy had also seen the same dog at Stokes' address during a welfare check.

Puppy2 was found in a "terrible state" and a vet certified that she was suffering.

She was underweight, constantly scratching, and had red skin and patchy fur.

Inspector Eddy said she had open wounds and scabs from scratching on her legs, face, and neck.

A vet diagnosed her with mange and gave her treatment. She also appeared to have recently had pups.

A vet report presented in court stated that the dog was suffering, her skin was so itchy that she was causing significant trauma to herself.

It was their view she had been suffering for at least a month.

The report said the dog was suffering so much it was causing her to scratch herself to the extent that she was causing serious harm to herself and she had open sores and wounds on her limbs, face, and body all of which would have been causing her pain.

After the case, the inspector said: "The vets stated that the prognosis for mange is good once treatment is started and it is a curable condition and relatively easy to treat if caught early - mite infestation is not only a curable disease but a preventable one - and the owner should have sought treatment for this condition.

"Thankfully with the right treatment the friendly spaniel recovered well and she has now been rehomed."

Stokes denied he was the owner of the dog and said that he had rehomed her.