This is tragic rottweiler Kim - who was left to suffer in agony for weeks by her owner.

The four-year-old developed a tumour in her shoulder which caused bone fractures and her right leg to go lame.

Kim was forced to drag her paw and body in pain as a result, but a court heard her owner Durville Barzey did nothing to alleviate her suffering.

Barzey, 34, of Newville Drive, Withington, has now been banned from keeping any animal as a pet for five years after a vet with 30 years’ experience said he hadn’t seen a dog with the condition at such an advanced stage. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to seek appropriate veterinary care.

Sadly, Kim was humanely put to sleep to end her suffering.

An RSPCA inspector visited Barzey’s home in April after a tip-off from a concerned member of the public, Manchester magistrates court heard. She saw Kim lying in a kennel and a closer look revealed a swollen right shoulder.

David McCormick, prosecuting, said she moved only when offered treats. He said: “The dog was clearly in pain and unable to weight bear on the right leg - dragging the paw and unable to lift it.”

Police were called and Barzey was interviewed by the RSPCA. The court heard one vet described her as ‘ten out of ten lame’. X-rays later revealed the disease in the shoulder and two subsequent fractures.

Mr McCormick said Barzey, who sat in court with his head in his hands during the hearing, sought no pain relief or treatment and had ‘failed in his duty of care’. “The dog was allowed to deal with the pain of the tumour,” he said. “Her suffering was unnecessary.”

Nnamdi Inegbu, defending, said Barzey claimed he only became aware of Kim’s condition days before she was taken away by the RSPCA and maintained that he was intending to take her to a vet. He said Barzey had ‘no intention’ to keep pets again and added: “The defendant is not taking these matters lightly. He enters an early guilty plea.”

District Judge Mark Hadfield however said it was clear that suffering took place over ‘many weeks’.

Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald said: “Kim was in pain and suffered. She would have had the painful condition for some considerable time and it would have been obvious to her owner, who failed alleviate her suffering. Had Mr Barzey sought immediate veterinary care, Kim could have been saved from a long period of pain.”

Barzey was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 250 hours unpaid work and £1,000 costs.