Dog forced to live with horrific injuries after owner refused to pay vet costs

A dog was forced to live with horrific injuries and later put to sleep after its owner refused to pay a the vet costs, a court heard.

Gary Fisher left his Golden Retriever Bodie to live with a growing ulcerated eye mass, which had split the skin, was dripping blood and covered in hair and dead skin.

Horrific pictures showed the condition of Bodie when discovered by RSCPA welfare officers at his home in Northwich, Cheshire. The pet dog was regularly bumping into things because of issues with his vision.

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In a written statement from RSPCA Inspector Nadine Pengilly, the court heard that on October 29 last year she attended his home on Westfield Grove following concerns raised about a dog with a growth on his eye.

“When Mr Fisher brought Bodie to the front door I was really shocked by the size and condition of the mass above his right eye,” she said.

“The skin had totally split open and a large tumour mass was exposed to the elements. The mass was bleeding in places and was dripping blood with thick dark blood clots. There was hair and dead skin embedded in the mass. The mass was bigger than my clenched fist.”

Mr Fisher told Inspector Pengilly he had taken Bodie to see two vets in 2023 and they wanted £1,600 from him to undertake CT scans, the RSPCA said.

He said that the 'vets were just out to make money from him' and so he refused to take the dog back for any further treatment or investigation and the eye problem had been going on for two years.

She added: “He said he didn’t think Bodie was in any pain as he was still eating and drinking and wagging his tail. I told him that I believed that the dog was suffering and