Winsford dog groomer starved her pet so long he had to be put down

**WARNING: This article contains a distressing image, shared by the RSPCA**

Kerry Hodgkinson’s Kangal Shepherd, Kaan, was so malnourished the vet had no alternative when a man brought him to the surgery for her on February 9.  

He made the vet come outside to his car so other clients wouldn’t see poor Kaan’s dreadful condition and be upset.

Kaan was so starved the vet couldn’t find a vein to sedate him, and he yelped in pain every time he was moved.

He was given a last biscuit to eat, which he struggled with before the vet eventually managed to find enough muscle in his neck for the euthanasia needle.

The vet informed the RSPCA, which sent inspectors to Hodgkinson’s Aston Avenue home.

There they found three other dogs, and one, a small crossbreed called Buddy, was seriously underweight.

A vet judged Buddy’s condition was so poor, he would have certainly been suffering unnecessarily.

Hodgkinson, 48, was eventually convicted of two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and appeared at Crewe Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Wednesday, July 24.

A statement from the vet who was forced to put Kaan to sleep was read the to the court.

It said: “The man opened the car door and picked up Kaan, who was wrapped in a blanket, off his front seat.

“Once the door was opened, a foul smell was noticeable.

Kaan was left emaciated before having to be put down by the vet (Image: RSPCA)

“He informed me he wasn't Kaan's owner, but had permission to do whatever he felt was needed.

“I asked if he meant euthanasia and he confirmed. I then explained I would need Kaan's owner's consent for euthanasia.

“He called Miss Hodgkinson for verbal consent.”

He added an examination of Kaan showed he was in an emaciated state and his eyes had sunken into his head, with almost no visible muscle. 

Hodgkinson, who worked as a dog groomer, was handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

She was ordered to pay £400 costs and a £154 victim surcharge, and banned from keeping animals for life.

RSPCA inspector, Leanne Cooper said: “It’s heartbreaking Kaan suffered so much as a result of being starved.

“It was Hodgkinson’s legal responsibility to ensure Kaan and Buddy didn’t suffer, and she failed to do this.”