A COUPLE pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to their dog in a case brought by the RSPCA.RSPCA inspector Kirsty Hampton was responding to a complaint when she discovered Barney lying in the garden.

A COUPLE pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to their dog in a case brought by the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Kirsty Hampton was responding to a complaint when she discovered Barney lying in the garden. His feet were all extremely sore and infected and one of his back feet was infested with maggots.

Barney was unable to stand and was in such a severe amount of pain that he had to be carried to inspector Hampton's van.

The brown and white dog was examined by a vet who found that he was suffering from an acute infection to his feet which had not been treated. She found that the maggots in his right hind paw were coming from several holes in the skin.

The vet concluded that his feet must have been in this condition and caused Barney to suffer for a minimum of several weeks.

Robert Shepherd, 63, and Deborah Shepherd, 45, pleaded guilty today. The court heard that Barney, a 14-year-old collie, had been found at the couples' home in Roman Road, Wheatley, in September 2009.

Robert Shepherd claimed in mitigation that they could not afford treatment for Barney.

Oxford magistrates gave the couple a 12-month conditional discharge and disqualified from keeping all animals for five years.

They were each ordered to pay �280.40 in costs. Confiscation orders were made on the remaining animals in their care.

Inspector Hampton said: “Barney was in so much pain he could barely move and had been like this for an unacceptable length of time. There is no excuse for leaving an animal to suffer when there is help and advice available.”