A man in Swansea, South Wales, named William Johns, 68, has been prohibited from owning animals for 15 years and given a suspended prison sentence for allowing his two Jack Russell Terriers, Cai and Lily, to become severely obese. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) inspector involved in the case described the dogs’ condition as the worst she had ever seen.
During a visit to Johns’ home, the RSPCA discovered that one of the terriers weighed 14.2kg, marking it as the most overweight dog witnessed by both a veterinarian and an RSPCA inspector. Unfortunately, one of the dogs, Cai, had to be euthanized due to heart failure, while Lily was rescued and placed under the care of the RSPCA.
RSPCA Inspector Gemma Cooper expressed concern over the dogs’ welfare, stating that the owner’s negligence in providing a balanced diet led to their severe health issues. The vet who examined the dogs confirmed their poor health status, with Cai in the final stages of heart failure, and Lily struggling with obesity-related breathing difficulties.
Following intervention by the RSPCA, Lily was put on a weight-loss program and showed significant improvement. The RSPCA plans to find a suitable home for her after her recovery. Johns, citing health problems including Parkinson’s disease and limited mobility, admitted his inability to properly care for the dogs and agreed to surrender Lily to the RSPCA.
In court, Johns was ordered to pay £400 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £187. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Lily’s progress under the RSPCA’s care serves as a positive outcome in this distressing case.
