Woman whose emaciated lurcher dog was found dead in a wheelie bin after being thrown away ‘like rubbish’ is banned from keeping animals for 10 years

• A black lurcher called Blue was found dead in a bin bag, weighing just 23lbs
• RSPCA inspectors also found a labrador puppy at the house in Hetton-le-Hole
• Floors of the home were strewn with dog poo and was no water for the animals 
• Rachel Burke, 39, has been banned from owning animals and ordered to complete 220 hours of unpaid work as part of a two-year community sentence
• WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT 

A woman whose emaciated lurcher dog was found dead in a bin after being thrown away ‘like rubbish’ has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Rachel Burke, 39, was prosecuted by the RSPCA after inspectors discovered the black lurcher, who had been callously slung into a bin bag and chucked away, at her home in Tyne and Wear.

The dog, called Blue, was extremely malnourished, weighing just 23lbs- less than half the average weight of an adult lurcher.

A black labrador puppy was also found running around the property in Hetton-le-Hole when inspectors John Lawson and Emma Stainthorpe visited on January 16 after the charity received a call about animals being left unattended.

The floors of the home were strewn with dog poo and there was no food or water left for the animals. An outside dog pen was also in a filthy condition.

The puppy, called Floyd, was immediately taken into the care of the RSPCA due to the grim conditions.

Burke was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to Blue by not addressing his weight loss and also of failing to provide a suitable environment for both Blue and Floyd.

Rachel Burke, 39, was prosecuted by the RSPCA after inspectors discovered the black lurcher, who had been callously slung into a bin bag and chucked away, at her home in Tyne and Wear

The dog, called Blue, was extremely malnourished, weighing just 23lbs, when he was found dead in a bin after being thrown away ‘like rubbish’

On November 16 she appeared for sentencing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court, where she was ordered to complete 220 hours of unpaid work as part of a two-year community sentence.

RSPCA Inspector John Lawson said in a statement presented to the court that while he was outside the property a resident showed him an image of a dead dog lying next to a pink water container in the yard.

He said: ‘We checked the wheelie bin in the rear garden and at the top of the bin was a black bin bag with a small hole in it. To the touch and through this hole it was clear the bag contained a deceased dog and his colour was the same as the dog in the photograph.’

Officers from Northumbria Police were called and, after they gained access to the property, the poor living conditions the dogs were kept in became apparent.

Inspector Lawson added: ‘There were no dog food or water bowls. There was an empty bag of Wagg dog food on top of the fridge and some dog treats on the kitchen counter, however no other dog food was seen.

‘Upstairs the floor of what appeared to be a child’s room was littered with dog faeces. The toilet in the bathroom was blocked and full of human excrement.’

As the inspectors were about to leave the property Burke appeared with a man, who said they had just returned from London

A post-mortem examination later revealed Blue, who was six-and-a-half years old, had died from a gastrointestinal disease.

The floors of the home were strewn with dog poo and there was no food or water left for the animals. An outside dog pen (pictured) was also in a filthy condition

Inspector Lawson said: ‘Upstairs the floor of what appeared to be a child’s room was littered with dog faeces. The toilet in the bathroom was blocked and full of human excrement’

A vet’s expert report concluded the dog would have been suffering for months through not being fed.

He scored one out of ten on a body score assessment when scores of four and five are typical of healthy canines.

‘It was devastating to see how thin he was,’ Inspector Lawson said.

‘His ribs, spine and hips were clearly visible, there was no muscle mass and his eyes were sunken in.

‘Blue’s abdomen had sunk to a level I had never seen before.’

In mitigation, the court was told that Burke, who was previously of good character, had seen her mental health issues worsen after the break-up of her relationship.

On November 16 Burke appeared for sentencing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court (pictured), where she was ordered to complete 220 hours of unpaid work as part of a two-year community sentence

She claimed her former partner ‘was responsible’ for the care of Blue and she could not recollect putting his body in the bin.

After he died she placed him in the bin bag so her children could not see.

As well as being banned from owning animals for 10 years and having to complete 220 hours of unpaid work, Burke was also told to pay £600 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £95.

Floyd is currently being looked after by RSPCA foster carers and will be rehomed soon.

After the hearing, inspector Lawson said: ‘It was a horrendous discovery to make, to see that a family pet had been thrown away like rubbish.

‘This poor dog was absolutely emaciated – there wasn’t a scrap on him.’

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