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Brothers guilty in fat dog trial
Two
brothers who allowed their dog's weight to rise by almost four
stone in two years have been convicted of causing unnecessary
suffering.
Derek
Benton, 62, and his brother David, 53, were found guilty of
providing their pet Labrador, Rusty, with an inappropriate diet. 
Vets said
Rusty was like a walrus after his weight rose to 11 stone
(69.8kg).
The
Bentons, of Fordham, Cambs, were given a three-year conditional
discharge by magistrates in Ely.
The court
was told the brothers had ignored a vet's advice on ways to deal
with the dog's condition.
'Like a
walrus'
Rusty,
nine, has now lost three and a half stone (22.2kg) under RSPCA
care.
During the
trial, the court was told Rusty was so fat, vets described him
as looking like a "walrus".
But
despite that the Benton brothers have been allowed to keep Rusty
subject to the condition that he does not regain the weight he
has lost.
Rusty must
also be given appropriate medication for the rest of his life.
After the
case David Benton, a crane driver, said: "I'm happy because
we're getting our boy back. I'm absolutely delighted.
"He will
be going to another vet and we'll make sure he gets what he
needs."
The RSPCA,
which brought the prosecution to court, said it was pleased with
the guilty verdict but was very disappointed the brothers would
be allowed to keep the dog.
'Devastated by decision'
Jason
Finch, from the RSPCA, said: "We'll be trying to work with the
Bentons to monitor Rusty and hopefully they will adhere to the
conditions set out regarding his care."
The vet
who treated Rusty when he was brought in by the RSPCA barely
able to stand, Alex Wylie, said: "The one thing we didn't want
was for Rusty to be allowed back to the Bentons. We are
devastated."
Bryant
Watson, chairman of the bench at Ely magistrates, said: "The
diet provided by the Bentons was inappropriate to Rusty's
weight.
"We were
aware that the Bentons were advised to control Rusty's weight by
the vet.
"We find
that Rusty was suffering and that he was overweight due to an
inappropriate diet."
The
Bentons were found not guilty of a second charge of failing to
provide appropriate vet treatment for a chronic ear infection.
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