A HUSBAND and wife from a village near Wellington have been banned from keeping animals for five years after being prosecuted by the RSPCA for leaving their pet dog with a chronic untreated skin condition.

Victor Green, aged 53, and his wife Tracie, aged 51, were convicted of not properly looking after their five-year-old Jack Russell terrier Roxy.

The dog was bald with inflamed and thickened skin and constantly itching when she was taken to a veterinary surgeon by the RSPCA.

The animal welfare charity had been contacted with concerns for Roxy and a visit was made to the couple’s home in Oake.

Insp Jo Daniel found Roxy to have ‘obvious extensive hair loss over the vast majority of her body’ which was ‘very thickened and lichen-like in appearance’.

The vet who examined Roxy said in a report to Taunton Magistrates Court: “The skin was inflamed, thickened, and pigmented with chronic inflammation and exposed with just very sparse hair on her legs and body.

“There was a marked musty, malodour to her body and her skin was flaking with severe scale.

“Her ears were closed over with chronic inflammation to the ear canals.

“My examination kept being interrupted by her intense need to itch and scratch herself with her back legs.

“The thickening and pigmentation of her bare skin indicated to me that this problem has been long-standing.

“There were multiple scratches on her sides from self-trauma.

“In my opinion, Roxy was in marked distress from her itchy skin.

“Professional help should have been sought after she relapsed following her first visit to the vets, to manage and treat her severe skin condition.”

The Greens pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence following the investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

Alongside the five-year ban, which they cannot appeal for three years, magistrates fined Victor Green £398 and Tracie Green £120.

Roxy, who was given anti-inflammatory treatment with steroids and antifungal and antibiotics ear drops and shampoo, has been cared for by an RSPCA team since her rescue.

She was signed over by the court for rehoming.

In mitigation, it was said that while the mistreatment was prolonged, it was not deliberate.

The couple obtained Roxy during the Covid lockdown and previously took her to a vet in 2021 when they were told her skin condition could be food intolerance, following which they gave her wheat and gluten-free foods.

When the condition flared again, they treated it with itchy creams and bathed it.

They said over-the-counter products were used to save taking her to a vet because of finances.

Insp Daniel said: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment they need when they need it.

“Animals are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.

“If any pet owner is struggling to care for their animal, we would encourage them to reach out to a local charity or organisation who can help.”