to starve to death.

Robert Wade, 50, of Curving Avenue, was also sentenced to 80 hours community service for the offence, by Magistrate the Wor. Charles-Etta Simmons in court yesterday.

Officers from the SPCA and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks, attended Wade's home after a complaint, on Friday, November 26.

In previous evidence to the court, Crown Counsel Mr. Melvyn Douglas said the officers found a dog locked in a wooden structure.

Mr. Douglas said: "The defendant was on the property at the time and told the officers it was his dog.

"The door was opened and there was a large dog laying inside the box among fecal material. There was water in the kennel and the only sign of food was an empty corned beef can and a bone with no meat on it.'' The officers took blood samples and found the dog to be anaemic, emaciated and dehydrated. He had very low protein levels. He was unable to stand and was lifted from the kennel.

It was then taken to a local vet for treatment and found to be a cross between a Dobermann Pinscher and a German Shepherd. It weighed 38.6 lbs, compared to an average of between 70 to 75 lbs for those breeds of dogs.

The dog was given intravenous fluid therapy and received a blood transfusion.

The treatment continued for five days before the dog died.

Although Wade admitted not feeding the dog and apologised, he claimed the dog had died as a result of its treatment after it was taken from him.

But Ms Simmons asked for a social inquiry report about Wade and sentenced him to community service and banned him from keeping animals.