A DOG owner convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to his pet said he neglected the animal because he felt his ‘whole world collapsing around him’.

Martin Edwards failed to prevent his black Labrador-Staffie crossbreed Terror from suffering unnecessarily between February 20 and March 20 this year.

The 47-year-old was found guilty at Oxford Magistrates Court on Monday, at a hearing which he failed to attend.

ALSO READ: Prisoner made guard fall down stairs at Reading court, trial hears

Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Tom Blackburn said Edwards had failed to heed the warnings of one of the charity’s officers on several occasions about the health of his dog, which was suffering from allergic dermatitis.

Oxford Mail:

Terror was biting his own legs because his skin was irritated. Picture: RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Andy Eddy had visited Edwards at home in Falcon Close, Blackbird Leys, first on February 12 after receiving a report of a neglected dog.

Mr Eddy noticed that Terror was chewing his own back leg and there were bald patches in his fur.

He advised Edwards to take the dog to the vet and said a voucher would be issued by the RSPCA to help cover costs.

Edwards said he would make an appointment for February 14.

ALSO READ: The residents who want to buy the last pub in the village

However, when Mr Eddy called Edwards on February 15 he had not taken the dog to the vets but promised he would do so the next day.

This happened again several times until March 20, when Mr Eddy arrived at the property and took Terror to the vets himself.

An order was then issued by Thames Valley Police, seizing the dog from Edwards.

Oxford Mail:

Terror the dog's back and tail were patchy and covered in lesions when the RSPCA visited Edwards' home in March. Picture: RSPCA.

A statement by Iva Todorova of Vets 4 Pets, Templars Retail Park, Cowley, said that the skin all over Terror’s body looked sore and there were lesions on his legs and abdomen which looked infected.

The vet added that mites were also found in his skin.

After being cared for at an RSPCA boarding kennel, Terror was taken back to the vet on April 19 and was found to have responded well to treatment.

ALSO READ: The new hub to help combat rough sleeping in Oxford

Edwards was interviewed by Mr Eddy after Terror was taken to the vets on March 20.

The interview was read out at court and in it, Edwards said he was upset with himself for letting it get to the point where Terror was taken from him.

He said his mother had recently passed away and he had been made redundant from BMW two weeks before last Christmas.

Edwards said: “My whole world collapsed around me.”

Oxford Mail:

Terror was taken to an RSPCA boarding kennel and treated for his skin condition. Picture: RSPCA.

He also said he had been in financial difficulty, and was living on only £60 a week from universal credit, with a lot of his money being used to pay off debts.

The skin condition had affected Terror twice in the past and Edwards had been able to treat him with over-the-counter medication, but on this occasion these had not been enough.

Edwards was also suffering from an ankle injury which made getting out difficult.

A warrant was issued for Edwards to appear at court for sentencing.