THE owner of two elderly dogs who admitted prolonged neglect has been banned from keeping dogs for five years.
Krzysztof Jaroslawski, 48, of Inner Circle, Taunton, pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences, following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
The animal welfare charity began an investigation after the body of a male crossbreed dog named Rebels was collected from Jaroslawski’s home by a pet cremation service.
The cremation service contacted the RSPCA to raise concerns about the condition of the dog, who was emaciated with severe dental disease.
The body of a second dog, a female lurcher type named Aronai, was subsequently found by RSPCA Inspector Jo Daniel when she visited his home address and observed her body through the letterbox in a cardboard box behind the door.
Krzysztof Jaroslawski’s dog Aronai having her teeth checked by the vet. She suffered from tartar formation and gum disease which had gone untreated. (Photo: RSPCA)
Vets who examined the dogs found both were severely emaciated with no observable body fat or muscle mass over the entire body.
They also had tartar formation and gum disease which would have taken a long time to progress to the extent it had and would have led to severe pain whilst alive.
In their report, the vet said: “Emaciation, even if there is a contributing underlying disease process, to the point that a body condition score deteriorates to 1/9, is a prolonged process and is both mentally and physically distressing for an animal. The owner’s failure to recognise and address the shocking condition amounted to ongoing serious neglect.”
RSPCA Inspector Jo Daniel added: “Rebels and Aronai were reliant on Jaroslawski to ensure they were given the care they needed and deserved. These were elderly dogs who should have been treated with kindness and compassion but were instead left to suffer without any help or the vet care they clearly needed.”
Alongside the five year disqualification from keeping dogs, which cannot be appealed for three years, Jaroslawski was sentenced to 16 weeks custody, suspended for 12 months, and
200 hours unpaid work requirement when he was sentenced at Taunton Magistrates Court on January 8.