Woman taken to court after RSPCA officer noticed 'significant' issues with tragic pet dog immediately

A woman has been banned from keeping animals after her pet dog was left to live with a chronic skin disease. Emma Conway had been visited at her Westhoughton home in May last year, after the RSPCA received reports about a dog with a skin issue.

The officer saw the female crossbreed called Harley wearing a coat that 'covered most of her body'. She had thickened skin 'that looked like Rhino skin' as well as severe fur loss, the officer noted.

Conway was told that the RSPCA had 'serious concerns' about Harley’s condition and she agreed to let the officer take her to a vet for treatment.

In her written evidence to the court the RSPCA officer said: “I saw a female crossbreed dog named Harley in the living room with a coat covering most of her body. However, even with the coat on, I could see she had quite a significant skin issue. I could smell a strong yeasty smell and I saw she had thickened skin and fur loss.

“I asked Ms Conway to take the coat off Harley and she pulled the back up. I could then see the dog was mainly bald along her back. The skin appeared thickened and black and reminded me of rhino skin. I asked if Harley had been to a vet and the owner stated she hadn’t as she couldn’t afford it but she showed me some treatments she had brought.”

Conway, of Southfield Drive, Westhoughton, was asked if she wanted to sign her over to the RSPCA, to which she initially agreed, but then said she wanted to wait to see what the vet had to say.

The court was told that Harley was immediately taken to a local veterinary practice. She was nervous and scared during examination and the vet who saw her said she believed an animal welfare offence had been committed. The dog was signed over to the RSPCA and an investigation was