A RUBERY man has been jailed and banned for life from keeping animals, after he failed to seek treatment for his emaciated dog, who had a huge tumour hanging from his jaw.

Victor Stokes, 54, of Devon Road, was convicted at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday, October 31 for causing unnecessary suffering to his English bull terrier Lenny.

When discovered by the RSPCA, 10-year-old Lenny was half the healthy weight of a dog his breed, was severely dehydrated and covered in ulcers and wounds from being kept in horrific conditions.

RSPCA inspector Boris Lasserre was called to Stokes' property in May, after receiving reports of a dog in an emaciated state with a large growth on his face.

He said: "Lenny was being kept in the hallway of a property with a dirty, damp duvet in a dog cage as his bed.

“The stench of rotting flesh from the untreated tumour hit you as soon as you walked into the house and the hallway stank of urine and faeces from where Lenny had been confined.”

Lenny was rushed to an independent vet but unfortunately had to be put to sleep to end his suffering.

Inspector Lasserre added: "The x-rays showed how part of Lenny’s lower jawbone had been disintegrated by this huge, invasive tumour.

“Lenny was in an awful condition and weighed just 12.7kg - half of what an adult, male dog of this breed should weigh. He was also severely dehydrated.

“He had ulcers and wounds on his legs and chest from where he’d been lying in unsuitable conditions."

Stokes told Birmingham Magistrates' Court that he had not taken the dog to a vet because he knew Lenny would be euthanised and could not being himself to do it.

The RSPCA is now urging pet-owners to check their pet's health regularly and seek veterinary treatment the moment they think something could be wrong.

"There is no doubt that Lenny could have been spared months of suffering if he had been taken to a vet," said Inspector Lasserre. "It is never an easy decision to make to have your pet put to sleep when the time comes but, to allow suffering to continue for selfish reasons, is inexcusable.”