A Birmingham woman has been banned from keeping animals for a decade after starving her ‘XL Bully’ dog to the point it had to be euthanised.
Renee Cooper, 40, of Claerwen Grove, Northfield, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering and other animal welfare offences after her dog, Lyah, was found in a severely neglected state. The dog had been kept outside in Cooper’s garden, where she claimed to have provided food but admitted she failed to check if Lyah actually ate.
The proceedings at Birmingham Magistrates' Court revealed that Lyah endured at least three weeks of severe physical and mental suffering before being taken to PDSA vets in a “collapsed and emaciated” condition on October 14, 2024. Despite receiving emergency care, the dog’s condition was so grave that euthanasia was deemed necessary.
READ MORE: UK Snow Bomb Expands to 690 Miles, Exact Start Date Announced
READ MORE: DWP Launches Urgent Initiative Addressing 700,000 Benefit Claims
The RSPCA prosecutor, Janita Patel, described Lyah as “extremely underweight” with visible wounds covered in faeces. A post-mortem examination found no medical reasons for the appetite loss, concluding the neglect was the sole cause of the dog’s decline.
Ms. Patel stressed that a reasonable owner would have sought veterinary help earlier. Cooper accepted responsibility but maintained that the dog lived outside and she supplied food and water, though she neglected to verify if Lyah was eating adequately.
District Judge Michelle Smith acknowledged the seriousness of the case but chose to impose an intensive supervision court (ISC) order instead of prison time. Cooper will undergo up to 30 days of rehabilitation activities and attend 12 mental health treatment sessions.
This distressing case highlights the severe consequences of animal neglect. Cooper, who has two dependent children, now faces a ten-year prohibition on owning animals, reinforcing the stringent penalties for animal cruelty in the UK.