WHEN three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier cross ‘Sam’ was rescued by the RSPCA, he had been abandoned and left to starve in squalid conditions for “at least four days” by his owner.

He had even chewed through a door and wall to reach a window ledge in search for freedom so that he could be seen by the outside world.

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But Sam had a happy ending, thanks to the work of Wirral RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes, who rescued him before seeing his owner held to account for his actions.

On Tuesday, Sam’s story will be told on Channel 5’s The Dog Rescuers.

Sam has been rehomed with the Hughes’ and they give him all the love and attention he needs.

The healthier and happier looking Staffie has found his forever home.

Inspector Joynes said: “When I joined the RSPCA six years ago, cases like the one involving Sam were the very reason I moved away from friends and family for a year’s training.

“It’s sad that this is still happening but I’m happy that we were there to rescue him and act as his voice. It’s a pleasure to see him now doing so well with his awful past behind him.”

Animal welfare officers found ‘Sam’ without food or water last October and surrounded by mouldy faeces in the Hinderton Road property, which was said to reek of ammonia.

Woodchurch man Sean Lawton was convicted of animal cruelty in April and banned from owning or keeping animals for 10 years.

The 28-year-old, of Big Meadow Road, had tried to sell the dog on Facebook without success and previously admitted responsibility for the dog during interview with the RSPCA.

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Sam chewed through a door and wall to reach a window ledge so that it could be seen by the outside world.

Magistrates imposed a 12 week custodial sentence on Lawton, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work, told to pay £1,000 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Chris Murphy, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told magistrates the animal welfare charity received a call from a concerned member of the public on October 24 after Sam was spotted sitting on the inside window ledge of the property.

Sam was taken to a vet, who gave him a body score of just two – one being emaciated and five being obese. 

The court heard that Lawton had tried to make arrangements for someone to feed the dog and accepted what he had done was wrong.

Mr Murphy added: “He said he was working 10 hours a day and he couldn’t walk the dog and play with him as he would have liked. He said he didn’t want to have him put down as he was a good dog.

“Lawton said he didn’t mean for it to happen like this, it had all got on top of him and he had let the dog down.”

The Channel 5 programme followed 350 inspectors for four months in a country-wide crusade to stop cruelty and neglect to man’s best friend.

With heart-wrenching rescues, heart-warming re-homings and amazing tales of dogs overcoming adversity, the 12 part series is sure to have you reaching for the tissue box.

Episode 10 of the show – hosted by Alan Davies – is on Channel 5 on Tuesday at 8pm.

If you would like to help the RSPCA to continue to bring animal cruelty cases to court, you can text HELP59 to 70099 to give £3.