Family let cat suffer (From Redditch Advertiser)

Family let cat suffer

3:48pm Tuesday 18th March 2008

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A FAMILY from Batchley has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after letting their pet cat suffer unnecessarily for months.

The cat Pippa, 13, had a large cancerous tumour which had consumed its left ear leaving nothing but a bleeding open wound.

Vets were forced to put Pippa down to prevent further suffering after the family failed to take her to the vet for treatment.

Susan Mason, her son David Mason and partner John Brain, all from Lime Tree Crescent, pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a cat.

David Mason was given a six-month custodial sentence, 250 hours community service and ordered to pay £300 in costs in addition to the 10-year ban on keeping animals.

Susan Mason and John Brain were sentenced in January and were each given a 12-month suspended sentence, 12-month supervision order and told to pay £300 costs on top of the ban.

Helen Smith, from the RSPCA, said: "I'm pleased with the final outcome. It was a very serious case where an animal had been suffering for months without receiving any veterinary attention.

"The sentence sends out a strong message to all pet owners that if their animal becomes ill then they must seek veterinary attention for it. It's simply not acceptable to sit back and allow an animal to suffer and not act to alleviate their suffering."

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