Just picked my local newspaper up. Oh god this poor dog. A seven year old staffy girl. She had an ear infection that was so bad that she couldnt move her head. Had to have both her ears amputated. It seems this all happened over a couple of years starting October 2007. Someone had reported her for not seeking veterinary help for her dog. She then took it to an rspca veterinary centre in another town where she was given medication. Someone must have reported her again as officers visited her last October and found the dog in a terrible state. Her ears were so swollen that they couldnt see down the ear canal. she was constantly scratching  and in obvious pain. the owner was giving her ibuprofen. She was found to have mites and a large haematoma blood blister and her ears where then amputated. The RSPCA officer said it was the worst ear infection he had ever seen. Can you imagine the pain she must have been in? god, poor girl. She is fine now though, thank goodness.
The woman was banned from keeping animals for 15 years with no option to appeal. She was also ordered to pay costs of £250 and also has a six months community order.
i always look for some explanation for a person treating a dog so cruelly. I notice that she lives in a particularly deprived area. In my imagination I am thinking of a woman who had a partner who left her with the dog and no money. (I am not making excuses here, just trying to understand what happened) She obviously had some element of care (although misguided) giving the poor girl something she though would relieve its pain. One big clue is that the rspca officer said the woman appeared to be on edge, behaved erratically and appeared drunk! Says it all then. If she had cared a jot about the dog, surely she would have gone without the alcohol etc and spent the money on care for the dog. Begs the question though, what should she have done. No PDSA in our area! Surely she should have either rehomed the dog or taken it to a rescue centre. I dont know. At least the poor girl is safe now.

It is terrible but please don't blaspheme.  I can barely read some of these threads we have had lately :-(

Apologies Isabel and anyone else who was offended. Stupid of me.

:-) Very good of you to appologise and I appreciate you were upset. 

Yes, I think language can slip sometimes in these situations but I should have shown more respect. Sorry!

> Can you imagine the pain she must have been in?

It doesn't bare thinking about, does it :( :(

My last dog suffered with ear infections, they are not nice and used to cause him lots of distress, I can't imagine not taking him straight to the vet for treatment :(

Poor staffy, what a state she must have been to need her ears amputating :( :(