Former Felixstowe man banned from keeping animals for life over dog malnourishment case

Tia when she was malnourished Archant

A former Felixstowe man has been banned from keeping animals for life after the RSPCA was calling in over his “unbearably skinny” Boxer dog.

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Tia, after she recovered Tia, after she recovered

Mark Frawley, who lived in Station Road, Trimley St Mary, at the time, was due to stand trial at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich after previously entering a not guilty plea to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

However, on the morning the 42-year-old’s trial was due to begin Frawley, now of Redwald Road, Rendlesham, near Woodbridge changed his plea to not guilty.

The offence involved his female Boxer called Tia who was malnourished and took place between April 25 this year and May 25 at Frawley’s flat in Station Road.

Frawley admitted not investigating or addressing the causes of Tia’s poor body condition or weight loss.

RSPCA inspector Amy Collingsworth said: “We were called with concern about Tia in May and I found her in an extremely poor state.

“The poor girl was unbearably skinny - you could see her ribs and hip bones.

She had clearly not been given the care she needed.

I took her straight to the vet who confirmed she was severely underweight and so the police took her and placed her into RSPCA care.

“Thankfully she has made a good recovery, putting on weight with just a normal healthy diet without any need for medical treatment. She has now been happily rehomed.”

In addition to being barred for life from keeping animals Frawley was also sentenced to a community order which included 80 hours’ unpaid work.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £500 towards prosecution costs.