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| Brothers guilty in fat dog trial | Brothers guilty in fat dog trial |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two brothers who allowed their dog's weight to rise by almost four stone in two years have been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering. | Two brothers who allowed their dog's weight to rise by almost four stone in two years have been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering. |
| Derek Benton, 62, and his brother David, 53, were found guilty of providing their pet Labrador with an inappropriate diet. | Derek Benton, 62, and his brother David, 53, were found guilty of providing their pet Labrador with an inappropriate diet. |
| The Bentons, of Fordham, Cambs, were given a three-year conditional discharge by magistrates in Ely. | The Bentons, of Fordham, Cambs, were given a three-year conditional discharge by magistrates in Ely. |
| Rusty resembled a walrus after his weight soared to 11 stone (69.8kg). | Rusty resembled a walrus after his weight soared to 11 stone (69.8kg). |
| The court was told the brothers had ignored a vet's advice on ways to deal with the dog's condition. | The court was told the brothers had ignored a vet's advice on ways to deal with the dog's condition. |
| 'Like a walrus' | |
| Rusty, nine, has now lost three and half stone (22.2kg) under RSPCA care. | Rusty, nine, has now lost three and half stone (22.2kg) under RSPCA care. |
| During the trial, the court was told Rusty was so fat, vets described him as looking like a "walrus". | During the trial, the court was told Rusty was so fat, vets described him as looking like a "walrus". |
| But despite that the Benton brothers have been allowed to keep Rusty subject to the condition that he does not regain the weight he has lost. | |
| Rusty must also be given appropriate medication for the rest of his life. | |
| After the case David Benton, a crane driver, said: "I'm happy because we're getting our boy back. I'm absolutely delighted. | |
| "He will be going to another vet and we'll make sure he gets what he needs." | |
| The RSPCA which brought the prosecution to court, said it was pleased with the guilty verdict but was very disappointed the brothers would be allowed to keep the dog. | |
| 'Devastated by decision' | |
| Jason Finch, from the RSPCA, said: "We'll be trying to work with the Bentons to monitor Rusty and hopefully they will adhere to the conditions set out regarding his care." | |
| The vet who treated Rusty when he was brought in by the RSPCA barely able to stand, Alex Wylie, said: "The one thing we didn't want was for Rusty to be allowed back to the Bentons. We are devastated." | |
| Bryant Watson, chairman of the bench at Ely magistrates, said: "The diet provided by the Bentons was inappropriate to Rusty's weight. | |
| "We were aware that the Bentons were advised to control Rusty's weight by the vet. | |
| "We find that Rusty was suffering and that he was overweight due to an inappropriate diet." | |
| The Bentons were found not guilty of a second charge of failing to provide appropriate vet treatment for a chronic ear infection. |