A man was fined $500 yesterday for starving his sick dog and leaving it without any medical attention or shelter - which ultimately led to its death.

Antwon Darrell pleaded guilty in Magistrates Court to the charge of cruelty towards his dog, a red male pitbull, in September of 2000.

Prosecutor Shade Subair told the court that SPCA inspector Charles Whited and his assistant had been called to Darrell's home in Woodland's Road, Sandys, after receiving a complaint by a member of the public.When they arrived at Darrell's yard, they found two dogs, a male and a female.

The male pitbull was so thin, she told the court, that its ribs were showing, and it had a growth, believed to be cancerous, at the base of its neck, as well as other lesions across its body.

There was no evidence of food or water around, and no shelter for the dog.

Ms Subair told the court that the dog was taken to Ettrick Veterinary Hospital in Warwick, where it was ultimately decided that it should be put to sleep.

Darrell, 31, who had no previous similar convictions, told the court yesterday that he had been sick at the time of the incident and therefore had neglected the dog.

He said: "At the time, I was not living right myself, so I could not take care of the dogs properly, but today, I'm a changed man."

Magistrate Carlisle Greaves said: "I'm always curious about men who treat their dogs roughly. I have a dog, too. He's my best friend.

"I'm going to fine you $500. I will give you until the end of the month to pay - I mean January 25."

SPCA Inspector Mr. Whited yesterday said that when he seized the dog it weighed only 48 pounds, instead of its average 70 pounds.

He said there were multiple lumps and lesions all over its body, and it had an infection in each ear.

A female boxer dog seized with it, was not destroyed. It was slightly thin, but Darrell did not face any charges in that case.

Mr. Whited, who is working with other animal welfare officers on the Island in a bid to get harsher punishments introduced into law for animal cruelty, said, under the circumstances, he believed the magistrate had done everything in his power in this case.

He said: "$500 - that is what I would expect. It was his first offence of this kind and the magistrate can only hand out what is in the act.

"Darrell, like he said, did have problems at the time, but he cooperated with us fully and admitted that the dog had been neglected."