Pair sentenced for starving dog and putting body in bin
A couple who allowed their pet dog to starve before putting its body out with the rubbish have been sentenced.
Nathan Parker, 19, of Boston Towers, Leeds, and Samantha Riley, 21, of Crosby Towers, Leeds, admitted three charges under the Animal Welfare Act.
Parker was jailed for four months by Leeds magistrates. Riley was given a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
The RSPCA said the dog was left to starve for up to eight weeks.
The charity said Stella, a Staffordshire bull terrier, was found wrapped in a duvet cover and black rubbish bag in the bin after they were called to a property on 12 November last year.
RSPCA inspector Sarah Briscoe said: "This dog suffered for a long time, the vet estimated she was starved for six to eight weeks before contracting pneumonia in the last 48 hours, when she would have been struggling to breathe."
The couple were both banned from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay £250 costs.