The court heard some dogs were kept in almost total darkness

Inspectors found dogs kept on soiled bedding and kennels smelling of urine at Swansea’s greyhound stadium.

One animal had an open cut on its tail with blood smeared across its kennel wall, magistrates in the city heard.

Other dogs were roaming loose and there was an open bin bag and a block of frozen meat dumped on the floor.

Francis Short, 64, who lives at the track in Fforestfach run by his ex-wife, admitted one offence under the Animal Welfare Act and must pay £515.

Kelly Byrne, prosecuting on behalf of Swansea council, told the court environmental health officers visited the stadium on 5 March this year.

She said they found the greyhound kennels were of a “very poor standard”.

As well as the soiled bedding and general disrepair some dogs were kept in poor light “with some kennels in complete darkness”.

A vet who was called to look at the dog with the open wound thought it was at least a week old, said Ms Byrne.

Short told officers that he had been treating the dog but it must have “eaten the bandages”.

Stadium closing

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was before the court for sentencing.

In mitigation Craig Davies said his client had been involved with racing dogs for 55 years and had never been in trouble before.

He said Short was in poor health which had made it difficult for him to care for the dogs kept at the track, although he did receive daily assistance from the Greyhound Trust.

Mr Davies argued that many of the problems “were cosmetic” and that Short had been treating the injured animal.

He said since the incident the kennels had been refurbished but Short’s ex-wife only had one year left on her lease for the site so the stadium would close within a year.

Short was fined £250, ordered to pay £250 towards prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

When he was removed from his owner Bob weighed 64kg

A dog that was so fat he could not scratch his own ears has shed a third of his body weight after being confiscated from his previous owner.

Fat Bob, thought to have been the heaviest dog in Scotland at 64kg, has been re-homed and put on a strict diet and exercise regime.

Owner, Ralph Dryden from Motherwell, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering by over-feeding him.

The four-year-old black Labrador has been adopted by a family from Paisley.

The dog piled on the pounds due to a diet of fish suppers and four tins of dog food a day.

He was removed from his previous owner in January after a vet examined him and found him to be “dangerously obese”.

The difference in him is amazing, he has got a spring back in his step Paul McShane New owner

At a hearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Dryden was convicted of causing the animal unnecessary suffering.

Sentence was deferred for six months for good behaviour.

Since being re-homed in March, Bob has slimmed down to a lean 41kg thanks to a strict diet and six-mile walks.

New owner Paul McShane said: “Bob had to be lifted into the car when we first got him, he couldn’t even walk the distance from the car to the front door of the house.

“He also couldn’t climb onto a bed or be trusted on the stairs.

“I was told on some occasions Bob was getting fed four big tins of dog food as well as a fish supper a day.”

New owner Paul McShane says the difference in Bob is amazing

He added: “We have been very careful with his diet and have managed to get his weight under control.

“The difference in him is amazing, he has got a spring back in his step.”

During the court hearing Dryden claimed the dog was a stray and was already fat when he took it in off the street.

Fiona Greig, from the Scottish SPCA, said: “Sometimes through an owner’s ignorance animals can suffer and that’s exactly what happened with Bob.

“This was a case of extreme over-feeding, to the point that the vet who examined Bob stated that he was dangerously obese and being caused unnecessary suffering as a result.

“On the positive side, Bob has now been re-homed with a family who are maintaining his diet.”

One of the St Bernards had to be put down the night it was found

A dog breeder who abandoned 99 St Bernards to go on holiday has been jailed for 18 weeks for animal cruelty.

Wellingborough magistrates heard 16 dogs have died or been put down since they were found at Wardana Kennels, Brigstock, Northants, last November.

The dogs were found covered in faeces and urine and without food or water.

Mary Collis, 51, admitted seven counts of causing unnecessary suffering to 85 dogs and failing to meet the needs of 14 dogs at an earlier hearing.

The RSPCA was contacted by concerned members of the public after Collis had gone away to Tenerife with her partner.

‘Suffering depression’

Inspectors found the St Bernards in poor health, many with matted fur and eye problems.

Collis, a trained veterinary nurse, originally denied the charges but later changed her plea.

Collis, now of Denby Lane, Wakefield, was also banned from keeping any animals for 10 years.

Chairman of magistrates Dr Robin Pugsley told Collis they felt they needed to give an immediate custodial sentence because of the number of dogs affected.

One had to be put to sleep on the night of 29 November when they were found.

Collis abandoned the 99 dogs to go on holiday to Tenerife with her partner

Another died the following day at a vets, and the court heard a total of 14 dogs had died since as a result of their ordeal.

The remaining 83 dogs have since been re-homed after a campaign by the RSPCA.

Prosecutor Kevin McCole told the court Collis went away on holiday on 24 November and RSPCA inspectors and police went into the kennels 5 days later.

Mr McCole said a visiting vet came to the conclusion that there had been “a significant lack of basic care requirements”.

Most dogs were emaciated and, on several, their ribs and spines could be seen.

‘Delighted’ with sentence

The court heard experts concluded most dogs had suffered neglect for several weeks or months.

In mitigation defence solicitor Ben Brown said the former kennel-owner, who had bred St Bernards for 30 years, had been well-respected in dog breeding circles.

Collis was declared bankrupt in May 2007 and was “living at the property pending eviction with a limited income”, the court heard.

She became depressed and her partner suggested going away on holiday, magistrates were told.

Speaking after the hearing today, RSPCA Inspector Clint Davies said they were “delighted” with the sentence.

“I think it sends out the right message to people that they are not going to get away with it.

“I think it shows complete disregard for the animals.”

A proposed ban on electric shock dog training devices in Wales will be re-written to make it a complete ban, says the minister who wants to bring it in.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said more than half the responses during consultation on the ban were in favour.

The collars are used on dogs by some to give an electric shock when the dog is deemed to be behaving incorrectly.

Ms Jones said she agreed with the argument that allowing exemptions to the ban would be difficult to police.

Ms Jones said last year that she planned to ban the use of such collars, mats and leads because of concerns that pets were suffering.

Manufacturers have said they were “puzzled and disappointed” by the decision.

The plan went to public consultation from 4 March to 27 May this year.

Difficult to police

In a statement, Ms Jones said the range of people and organisations responding included dog trainers, vets, manufacturers of the devices and members of the public.

She said: “Many of the respondents commented that there could be considerable difficulty in policing the exceptions.

“These difficulties included the length of time for which a collar was used and whether the collar had been fitted and used in accordance with the provisions.

“I am persuaded by these representations and have decided to remove the exceptions from the draft.”

The statement said the minister was required to re-notify the European Commission of her proposal to amend the legislation.

Once the European Commission had received the proposals, Ms Jones said she expected the process to take three months.

Darcy with handler John Ball and Bob Russell MP

Two Essex MPs have called for changes to quarantine laws after a search and rescue dog was locked up on its return from an earthquake zone.

Darcy, who could find survivors in the aftermath of a UK terrorist attack, was impounded for six months on Thursday after returning from Indonesia.

She is the only search and rescue dog with Essex fire service.

Colchester MP Bob Russell and Angela Smith, MP for Basildon, have called on the government to review the law.

Mr Russell has tabled a motion calling for rescue dogs to be exempt from “antiquated” quarantine laws, while Ms Smith has promised to take up Darcy’s case with Defra, the Government department responsible for quarantine laws.

Sniff out survivors

A Free Darcy campaign on Facebook has attracted more than 600 supporters.

The four-year-old Border Collie, who was quarantined at Stanway, near Colchester following a week-long trip to Sumatra, is trained to detect by scent whether there are any survivors following a building collapse.

Dogs can be tested for the disease so there is no danger that she could possibly be bringing rabies back to the UK Chief Fire Officer David Johnson

During her first overseas mission, she was able to indicate to her handlers that there were no survivors buried under the rubble of three villages.

Chief Fire Officer for Essex, David Johnson, said Darcy would be able to put the same skills to use in the aftermath of any terrorist attack in the UK.

“The Government invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in creating a search and rescue capability in Essex to serve the region if terrorists attack.

“But at the same time they let a vital part of this resource be locked away for six months.”

One other UK rescue dog, one of two available to the fire service in Kent, is also in quarantine following its return from Indonesia.

Rabies inoculation

Mr Johnson added that quarantine laws were created “for a different situation, from a different time” and should now be changed for rescue dogs.

Darcy has been inoculated against rabies, and received a booster immediately before she left for Indonesia, he added.

“Dogs can also be tested for the disease so there is no danger that she could possibly be bringing rabies back to the UK,” he said.

“During her time in Indonesia she did not leave the team’s sight and did not come into contact with any of the local dog population.”

A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service said no other European countries impose quarantine on their rescue dogs.

A team of 18 search and rescue dogs sent to Sumatra were available for operations as soon as they returned home to Switzerland, he added.

The RSPCA says a new generation are using rottweilers (left) in dog fights

An increasing number of dogs are suffering horrific injuries as a result of fights, the RSPCA has warned.

The charity says it is seeing a new wave of dog fighting, known as Chain Fighting or Rolling.

Unlike previous cases, the fights are informal and often take place in inner city public parks.

While the RSPCA has questioned whether the police have the powers to deal with such fights, ministers insist they have introduced tougher penalties.

Police have closed down many organised dog fighting rings but animal welfare groups say the number of people involved in “ad hoc” fights has risen dramatically.

David Grant from the RSPCA said he was seeing “unprecedented levels” of injuries.

He said: “We see two or three fights most days. At the weekend it can be quite bad, a few weekends ago we had 10″, he said.

Dogs as weapons

Mr Grant said the dogs were often badly hurt: “We frequently see ears torn off, eyes torn out. In my career as a vet – nearly 42 years – this is the worst it has ever been.

“I have never seen things as bad as this.”

The charity says gangs of young men are meeting in parks to turn their dogs on each other.

The dogs are often Rottweilers or Staffordshire bull terriers. It says their owners view the dogs primarily as protection or as a weapon.

Ministers says there are now tougher penalties for dog fighting and that the new Policing and Crime Bill will make it easier to seize dogs owned by criminal gangs.

But the RSPCA says the authorities still have limited powers to seize dogs kept by their owners as weapons.

One of the dogs was found trying to cross the A34 dual carriageway

A greyhound trainer has said she believes three dogs stolen from her Oxfordshire kennels were taken for illegal hare coursing.

The animals were taken on Monday night. One was found on Tuesday morning with cuts on its legs and a muddy body.

Katherine Taylor, from Winaway Kennels, said: “These dogs aren’t trained to course, they make them do it until they’re exhausted, it’s beyond belief.”

Thames Valley police are investigating the incident.

They’re like our friends, our children, they mean everything to us Katherine Taylor

A second dog was found on Tuesday evening and returned to the kennels in Harwell.

It was picked up by a horse trainer as it tried to cross the A34 dual carriageway near East Ilsley.

“They’re like our friends, our children, they mean everything to us,” said Ms Taylor.

“It’s a feeling of devastation, you can’t believe it’s happened to you, you feel so useless that you can’t find them, you can’t get them.”

Better security

Since the break-in, Ms Taylor and her partner have been sleeping in the office at the kennels that has CCTV and a burglar alarm.

“We’ll sleep here until everything’s sorted, we’ll never let this happen again,” she said.

“My partner’s trying to organise better security and finding out the cost.

“We can get money for this from a fund from the greyhound racing industry.”

The kennels is home to 50 dogs that are trained for racing at the Oxford Greyhound Stadium.

During September Thames Valley Police have been running Operation Migrate to try to stop hare coursing in South Oxfordshire.

The dogs died at the police headquarters at Sherwood Lodge

A police dog handler accused of leaving two of his German Shepherds to die in his car was “too ill” to attend his first court hearing in Nottingham.

Pc Mark Johnson faces one charge of causing unnecessary suffering after he allegedly left the police dogs in the back of his car on 30 June.

The 40-year-old did not attend the short hearing in Nottingham earlier.

The deaths happened on one of the hottest days of the year, when temperatures reached 29.3C (84.7F).

Dog championship

Mr Johnson was represented at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court by his solicitor and a member of the Police Federation.

The defendant is accused of leaving his dogs, 10-year-old Jet and 18-month-old Jay-Jay, to die after he went in to Nottinghamshire Police’s headquarters in Arnold.

The prosecution is being brought by the RSPCA, which accuses Mr Johnson of “unnecessarily confining them [his dogs] in an environment that was detrimental to their well-being”.

It is understood that Jet came third at last year’s National Police Dog Championship and Jay-Jay was being trained to replace the older dog

An average of 32 stray dogs are picked up per day in London

The number of stray dogs on London streets has risen by 64% over the past year, a charity has found.

The Dogs Trust said 11,763 stray dogs were picked up in the capital in the year to March. The number of stray dogs across the UK rose by 11% to 107,228.

It blamed the rise on the recession but said the fact that strays are now reported directly to councils rather than to the police was also a factor.

The charity wants the microchipping of dogs to become compulsory.

London councils picked up an average of 32 stray dogs per day from April 2008 to March 2009, the Dogs Trust said.

During that time, 262 stray London dogs were put to sleep for want of a home.

Since 2008 police in England and Wales are no longer responsible for stray dogs.

The charity said this was a factor in the sudden rise, as stray dogs are now immediately taken to council offices and recorded.

In the past dogs were taken to police stations, where there owners may have collected them before being recorded.

The Dogs Trust wants the government to make it a legal requirement for owners to have a microchip inserted under their dog’s skin.

This will enable lost or stray dogs to be easily identified and reunited promptly with their owners, it said.

Dogs Trust chief executive Clarissa Baldwin said: “Microchipping is an essential part of being a responsible dog owner and has helped so many people become reunited with their beloved pets.”