A COUPLE have been fined after a dog was found less than half the weight it should have been.

Hyndburn magistrates heard the cross bred bull terrier-type dog had only an overturned sofa for shelter and had sores on all its legs where it had been sleeping without bedding.

Kady Newell, 21, and Sarah Jane Yates, 22, both of Shakespeare Way, Bank Top, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to omitting to act to ensure the dog's well-being and keeping it in conditions detrimental to its well-being.

They were each fined £125 with £250 costs and banned from keeping dogs for five years.

Chris Wyatt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said inspectors had found the dog in an emaciated state with all its bones visible and with sores on all its legs.

It was in the back garden of the house in Shakespeare way and had no shelter, food or water.

Police seized the dog and passed it to the RSPCA.

Yates and Newell told officers they had found the dog but had put it outside after it growled at Yates' son.

They said they had not taken it to the vet because they could not afford to.

The dog was taken to the vet by the RSPCA and found to way just 8.15 kgs.

Two months later, with normal feeding, its weight had increased by 74 per cent.

Mr Wyatt asked the magistrates to consider disqualification from keeping animals to ensure there was no repetition.

Roger Pickles, defending, said they were not deliberate acts of cruelty but came about through omission and inexperience.

"They accept they were not suited to looking after these dogs," said Mr Pickles.

He said the defendants had encountered a "benefits crisis" and had tried to re-home the dog.

"Unfortunately the tragic case of a little girl in St Helens who was mauled by a dog of this type was in the news at the time," said Mr Pickles.

"They couldn't give the assurance the dog was good with children and they were left with it.

"This has been a nightmare and they don't want to keep a dog in the future."