A CREDITON man has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after keeping two dogs in a dirty garden shed, and neglecting a pony.

Both Collies had to be put down because of the severity of their condition. One was unable to stand unaided when seen by the RSPCA.

Kenneth John Tucker (71), from Fordton, Crediton, was found guilty of four animal welfare offences and sentenced to 200 hours community service when he appeared before magistrates in Exeter on January 13.

He was also ordered to pay £300 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

In March 2019 two dogs were discovered in a small leaking shed during a visit to Tucker’s home.

Two tan-coloured collies, known as Rocky and Foxy, were found in dirty hay which was soiled with urine and faeces.

Rocky, who was unable to use his hind legs, was found collapsed and unable to stand without being physically held or propped up.

He had a deformed foot, all his nails were overgrown and pointing upwards and his coat was dirty and matted. He also had rotten teeth and an abscess on his gums.

Foxy was underweight and unsteady on her feet because of a neurological condition.

Foxy also had overlong, pointy nails, especially at the front, and was unsteady on her feet because of a neurological condition.

She was also found to have poor condition teeth with lots of plaque.

Both dogs had to be put to sleep on the advice of a veterinary surgeon.

Tucker was also found guilty of animal welfare offences relating to an underweight 18-year-old Dartmoor pony.

The pony was found in a stable with thick, piled-up faeces, with no dry bedding or dry lying area.

An independent vet found the pony had hooves, which did not appear to have been recently trimmed, in poor condition. They had multiple horizontal growth rings, indicative of chronic laminitis, and the hoof walls were crumbling in consistency and of poor quality.

The pony’s teeth had also not received routine care, with overgrowths in the lower teeth at the front and the back of the mouth which were beginning to wear into the opposite gums.

RSPCA Inspector Marije Zwager, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “Ensuring appropriate care, diet, living environment, and veterinary attention is a key part of the responsibility that comes with owning an animal. It’s so sad that, in this instance, that responsibility was not met.”