By KLTV Newsdesk –

A woman has been given an eight-week suspended jail sentence after leaving her puppy with a fractured skull and a broken thigh bone for at least ten days without seeking veterinary treatment.

Puppy Suffered Serious Injuries

Hafsar Khan, of Manor Estate, Toll Bar, appeared at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court on 19 February, where she pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences. In addition to the suspended sentence, she was banned from keeping animals for ten years.

The RSPCA launched an investigation after receiving a tip-off from a concerned member of the public about a dog with untreated injuries at Khan’s home.

Inspector Leanne Booth visited the property on 10 June last year, where Khan presented her with a male Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type puppy named Manic.

The inspector immediately noticed that the puppy was limping on his back right leg and appeared unusually subdued for his age.

When questioned, Khan admitted she had accidentally stepped on the puppy’s leg around two weeks earlier and claimed she had booked a veterinary appointment for the following day.

However, Inspector Booth became increasingly concerned as Manic showed signs of muscle wastage in his hind leg and had a noticeable lump on his head.

Veterinary Examinations Confirm Neglect

With Khan’s permission, Manic was taken for urgent veterinary care, where X-rays revealed a right femoral head fracture and an older skull fracture with a fragment of bone lodged on top of his skull.

Inspector Booth told the court: “I was contacted the following day by the vets and advised that Manic did have a fracture to the femoral head and would require pain relief and surgery.

“I was also advised that Manic had at some point sustained a fractured skull. X-rays showed a fragment of bone which appeared to have chipped off and was now sat on top of his skull.

“Vets advised to leave this as it had already begun healing and was an older injury.”

An independent vet confirmed that Manic’s injuries were at least ten days old by the time he was examined. The vet stated: “At the time these injuries occurred, it would have been obvious to a reasonable dog owner that Manic would have been injured, showing lameness of the right back leg and a swelling to the right side of his head with a skin wound.

“He would also likely have displayed behavioural changes, such as dullness and lethargy as a consequence of the head injury.

“In my opinion, the needs of Manic have not been met to the extent required by good practice due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal failing to seek prompt veterinary advice and thereby failing to protect this animal from suffering.”

Court Condemns ‘Prolonged Period of Suffering’

During sentencing, the district judge criticised Khan for failing to act despite clear signs that Manic was in pain. Addressing the defendant, the judge said: “The reason you are here is because you left your dog to suffer over a long period of time.

“We know this because the muscle mass on the right hind leg was significantly less than on the left leg. This takes time and points to a prolonged period of suffering.

“You did nothing, and that caused your animal to suffer. The reality is that it was obvious that your dog urgently needed to see a vet and receive treatment.

“Your failure to act led to substantial harm, and your dog suffered pain in the absence of treatment.”

Khan was also ordered to pay £400 in costs and a £150 victim surcharge.

Manic Makes Full Recovery

In mitigation, the court heard that Khan suffered from mental health conditions and alcohol dependency, which affected her judgment in caring for Manic.

Despite his ordeal, Manic was taken into the care of the RSPCA Doncaster and Rotherham branch, where he received the necessary treatment.

He has since made a full recovery and has been successfully rehomed.