A COUPLE have both been banned from keeping animals for 15 years after a dog starved to death.

Robert Caddis took the emaciated lurcher dog to a vets but claimed that it had been stolen three weeks earlier and had only returned the previous evening, Burnley Magistrates heard.

Caddis never returned to the surgery and the vet was so concerned he went to search him out.

The defendant and his partner Tara Baines then gave an RSPCA inspector the runaround when she tried to get hold of them, Burnley Magistrates heard.

The dog died the day after being taken to Stanley House Vets on Albert Road, in Colne.

The defendant, of Pine Street, Nelson, admitted not taking steps to reasonably ensure the needs of the animal were met. He was banned from keeping animals for 15 years and told to pay £200 costs.

Baines received the same sentence last Thursday after the bench said there had been "ongoing neglect."

Chris Wyatt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said on May 2 at about midday Caddis took the dog, Apollo, to the vet.

He claimed the owner was Tara Baines of Calder Street, Colne. The animal weighed 13.8kilos, instead of the expected 20 kilos and was severely emaciated and dehydrated. It was given intravenous fluids.

An arrangement was made for the defendant to return at 6pm. but he didn't arrive. At this stage the vet, who was shocked by the dog's state, took it upon himself to find out what was going on.

He managed to speak to Baines, who did not collaborate Caddis's claim. She said the dog had been missing for three days.

At about 7.30pm, the vet went to Calder Street, knocked on the door and was told neither Caddis nor Baines lived there. He managed to get hold of the defendant later at another address and Caddis maintained the dog had been missing for three weeks.

Mr Wyatt said the vet believed the dog had been caused unnecessary suffering by not being taken for treatment and called in the RSPCA Richard Taylor, for Caddis, said the defendant thought the dog had worms. He wanted to stress the dog had not been ill for a long time and he thought he did the right thing by taking it to the vet.

The solicitor added: "Had he not done that he wouldn't have been here today at all as nobody would have known about it."