A WHITCHURCH couple who "ignored" signs of severe pain in their cat over a long period of time have been banned from keeping all animals for life.

Peter and Debbie Rogers, of Alkington Road, Whitchurch, appeared before Telford Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Monday, December 20, following a prosecution by the RSPCA.

The couple had both pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences at an earlier hearing last month, with a vet who examined Toffee calling it "one of the clearest cases of neglect" they had seen.

RSPCA Inspector Nayman Dunderdale, who rescued Toffee, said she was put to sleep because of the pain she was in, and described the background to the tragic case.

Inspector Dunderdale said: “It was clear that Toffee had been suffering pain and distress for a long time and her owners should have done the right thing by her and sought treatment at the earliest opportunity.

“Her quality of life was so poor at the end that there was no other option but to end her suffering.

"We always urge people to seek help if they are struggling to look after their pets, rather than letting the situation deteriorate to the extent that it did with Toffee.”

Telford Magistrates heard that Mr Rogers told the inspector that Toffee – aged between four and five – had cancer and her eyes were missing.

He said an appointment had been made at their vets for Toffee later that evening, but it transpired she was not registered with the vet.

He said: "Her eyes were closed and matted with green gunk and she looked very thin, with the bones of her hip spine and hind quarters easily visible.

"Mr Rogers asked me to take her, and said she needed to be put to sleep.”

Toffee was taken straight to a vet where she was examined and found to be emaciated, weighing just 1.1kg – half her correct weight – and her eyes had ruptured, maybe weeks before.

A discharge was present on both her face and forelimbs where she had rubbed herself in an effort to relieve the discomfort.

The vet who examined Toffee, working for 15 years, said: “She had a gentle nature despite the horrendous discomfort she was no doubt experiencing.

"Unfortunately, her welfare was so severely compromised, and with such a slim chance of returning her to an acceptable level of quality of life, that she was euthanised shortly after examination.

He added: “I regularly see cats with sore eyes of varying severity in my daily work.

"I also work alongside a vet with an interest in veterinary ophthalmology and we communicate regularly about cases, so I am very familiar with corneal issues.

“This is one of the clearest cases of severe neglect that I have seen.”

In addition to the lifetime ban on keeping all animals, the couple were ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £250 and a £95 victim surcharge.

In mitigation, the court heard there had been bereavement and illness in the family and Mr Rogers was having mental health difficulties and struggling to cope.

The couple had also complied with an RSPCA improvement notice for three of their other animals.

Fifteen animals in total, which were owned by the couple, have since been rehomed.