A MOTHER who left her pet dog starving and close to death has been told bya court she can never keep a pet again.Owner Lisa Clarke faced a possible prison sentence after two-year-old Patch was discovered so pitifully thin he struggled to bark.

By Amanda Cresswell

A MOTHER who left her pet dog starving and close to death has been told bya court she can never keep a pet again.

Owner Lisa Clarke faced a possible prison sentence after two-year-old Patch was discovered so pitifully thin he struggled to bark.

But she was spared jail at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court given a 150 hour community punishment order as well as being handed a life ban on keeping animals.

Outside the courtroom RSPCA Inspector Marc Niepold, told the Star: "This was probably one of the thinnest dogs alive I have ever seen in ten years as an RSPCA inspector.

"A life ban sentence is the severest you can get as far as a disqualification goes and reflects how serious the magistrates consider the matter.

"It is a clear message to people that they should think long and hard before taking on ownership of any animal.

"They should consider not only the length of time they have to own it but the financial costs in feeding it and veterinary treatment."

Clarke, 27, of Lambeth Close, Ipswich, had admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the black and white border collie by failing to feed him properly.

The RSPCA had found Patch close to death and weighing 9.8 kgs – less than half the weight of a healthy dog its size.

Mitigating, Nikki Miller told magistrates Clarke was struggling financially so Patch was second in priority to her son.

Sentencing Clarke to an indefinite ban on keeping pets, bench chairwoman Jacqueline Holmes gave credit for her guilty plea but told her: "This was a very serious case".

The Evening Star revealed earlier this month staff from Ipswich-based Pets at Home on Ranelagh Road were horrified to read of Patch's plight.

They read the dog was so thin he attempted to bark, but was barely audible and was knocking itself over in the effort.

So the staff stepped in and donated a £100 hamper of goodies to Patch, who is now healthy and has been re-homed.