A FARMER with more than 200 animals admitted causing unnecessary suffering to one of his dogs.
Robert Barnes, of Temple Farm at Kirkburton, left border collie Beth with a skin condition after she had pups.
He failed to get her the appropriate veterinary treatment and she was picked up in a poor condition by the RSPCA after she had gone missing.
Barnes, 57, pleaded guilty to the offence at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Prosecutor Andrew Davidson said RSPCA inspectors were told about Beth’s plight after she was found by a vet who was concerned about her condition.
When she was examined she was found to have a severe skin condition over most of her body and was underweight.
“Happily, Beth has since received treatment is doing well,” Mr Davidson told the magistrates’.
During interview, Barnes said Beth “looked like a fleabag” and initially failed to see what he had done wrong.
But he later accepted that Beth’s condition was poor and that he should have got her proper treatment.
At his Linfit Lane farm Barnes has 128 cattle, 76 sheep, 12 pigs, three goats and 10 dogs, some of which he rescued. Beth is a working dog used to round up the cattle.
Georgina Code, defending, said Barnes had gone to seek the advice of staff at Companion Care veterinary surgery, but as Beth wasn’t registered she was not seen by a vet.
“He followed their advice, but Beth went missing on May 8 and he reported her as missing.
“On May 11 Beth was found, having been a stray for three days.
“He accepts that he should have done more about it.”
Miss Code said Barnes was in financial dire straits and could not pay bills for his farm.
Magistrates adjourned the case until March 12 for pre-sentence reports.
