A MAN left a bull mastiff on its own in a Haslingden flat, feeding it only once every three days, a court heard.

By the time the animal was rescued by the RSPCA, the bitch known as Defan was only half her normal weight and was suffering dehydration and some kidney failure.

Robert McKee, 24, a self-employed decorator, of West View, Haslingden, admitted causing unnecessary suffering under the Protection of Animals Act.

He was bailed until August 20 after magistrates asked for probation reports and warned him they were keeping all sentencing options open.

McKee told the bench at the end of the hearing: "I did love the dog and I am sorry for what has happened." Christine Pilkington, prosecuting for the RSPCA in Rossendale, said two RSPCA inspectors, a police officer and Rossendale dog warden David East found the mastiff in a flat in Ogden House, Marsden Square, Haslingden.

She said Mr East described the dog as being in a very bad way and at first could not tell what breed it was because it was in such a poor state.

Mrs Pilkington said: "It was timid and frightened and the unfortunate animal was surrounded by its own excreta.

"As it ran away it slipped on the floor."

She added that the team believed the animal had not had food or water recently. The bones of its pelvis and ribcage were prominent and a vet found it to be less than half its normal weight of 45 kgs.

The dog was up to 15 per cent dehydrated and was suffering some kidney failure.

She told the court: "The vet concluded that the dog was severely malnourished and had not had a drink for 72 hours.

"Her weight and condition were consistent with neglect over two months or more."

When RSPCA Inspector Brian Oxley interviewed McKee at a garage in Rawtenstall he said he had been expecting it.

He told Inspector Oxley he had left the dog in the flat in Ogden House a month before and only fed her every three days.

McKee told the court the Ogden House flat had been broken into and he had moved for his own welfare.

He added: "I couldn't take the dog with me because she fights with other dogs.

She was a big dog. I tried to feed her as much as I could and tried to find her another place to live. But no-one would take her."

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