A MORETON man who failed to take his dog to the vet after it was severely burned by chip pan fat in an accident has been banned from keeping animals indefinitely.

Crossbreed dog Zeus is still receiving treatment for the “horrendous” injuries he received to his head after being scalded by burning fat earlier this year.

Owner Derek Johnston, of Curlew way, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering when he appeared at Wirral magistrates court on Tuesday.

RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes had been called to Johnston’s home on July 22.

Zeus was found lying in a plastic bed without bedding under a kitchen worktop and was said to be visibly shaking and whimpering and “clearly in some pain."

Johnston said the dog had “injured itself” after jumping up and pouring a chip pan over itself two nights previously.

But when asked if he had taken it to the vet, 37-year-old Johnston said he did not have the money to take it anywhere.

Magistrates heard Johnston had been cooking chicken in the kitchen when the incident occurred.

“Johnston was draining the fat off and was watching television in the living room while it did,” said Chris Murphy, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA.

“He heard a loud bang and ran into the kitchen and the fat was over the floor and the dog was injured.

The court heard that Johnston had immediately poured cold water onto the dog’s wounds but was unable to wash the fat off until the following morning as Zeus “went for him” when he tried.

Nappy rash cream had also been applied to the injury

Mr Murphy said: “Johnston said he had no credit on his phone so couldn’t ring for help. He said he didn’t realise just how bad it was. He apologised for the pain that had been caused.

“He said he had owned the dog for about three years after taking it from a friend – he said the dog was his best friend and had been ever since.”

Matthew Harvey, defending, said Johnston had tried his best to look after Zeus following the incident and had even asked family members to put up the money for treatment, but they refused.

Wirral Globe:
Zeus was left with severe burns to his face - it is not yet known if he will have permanent scarring.

Banning Johnston from owning or keeping any animal indefinitely until his financial circumstances change, chair of the bench Robert Hasler said: “You did not have the finances and you don’t have the finances now and although we don’t wish a similar thing to happen in the future, it could and in those circumstances, you would not have the means to look after the animal.”

Johnston was fined £73 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said Johnston had “completely failed in his duty of care” for Zeus He said: “When people take a dog on, these are the things they have got to take into account – accidents and illness – and they have got to have something in place to ensure the dog gets the care that it needs.

“The courts have dealt with him swiftly and quite harshly when you look at the cost implication. The costs of getting the dog the care it needed would have been just a fraction of what he now has to pay.”

“People have got to practice responsible ownership. Either get your pet insured or put a bit of money away on a regular basis so that you have got some disposable income when something happens.

“Things do happen and sometimes they happen at the worst possible time.”

Zeus is currently in the care of the RSPCA and will be rehomed soon.