Owner broke dog's leg and left it as he went on holiday
A man has been banned from keeping pets for five years and sentenced to community service after he admitted breaking his family dog's leg and leaving it while he went on holiday.
Wayne Hopewell, 36, of Johnson Avenue, Prescot, was sentenced to 200 hours of community service for abusing Milo and leaving him in need of a pin and plate in one of his hind legs.
RSPCA inspectors visited Hopewell's home in January following reports of the abuse.
Hopewell's partner told the RSPCA that the Merseyside father lifted the wire-haired cross into the air by the scruff of the neck and slammed him down onto the floor several times after the family pet urinated on some clothes as the family were preparing to leave for a weekend away.
Following the incident, the dog kept lifting his leg up, the court was told. The couple left Milo with friends and went on holiday.
Hopewell pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary cruelty to animals and one of failing to seek veterinary help, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Hopewell's partner, who is expecting a baby, said that when they returned the dog "seemed happy" and was still lifting one of his hind legs up and had a bruise on the inside of his leg.
When she returned from college she suggested that they take the dog to the vet but Hopewell refused, saying to leave it for a few days.
She eventually contacted her parents who took the dog to the vet five days after the incident, reports the Mirror.
The RSPCA picked Milo up from the vets and had him examined by their own vets. They soon discovered that the dog had a clear fracture in his hind leg and needed several operations to put a metal pin and plate in his leg.
Milo has since been re-homed.
Hopewell was ordered to pay £1,506.10 to contribute to the cost of Milo's operations and the RSPCA investigation as well as a victim surcharge of £60. He agreed to pay the money back at a rate of £50 a month.
Related stories
Video: Man faces animal cruelty charges after riding emu
Hundreds of animals found dead at South Africa airport
Animal rights outcry as endangered elephants used as 'bulldozers' in India
Pet dog left on train in Swansea
