A married couple has had their ban from owning pets reduced from 5 years to 2, after their appeal case at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Recorder Fitton QC ruled that the behaviour of Mr and Mrs White, of Pine Road in Corfe Mullen, Dorset, ruled the ban was "appropriate but not for 5 years".
The case came to court after Neil and Selina White pleaded guilty, in January, to causing unnecessary harm to their pet cat Elliot, which was resultantly put down.
Concerned neighbours called the RSPCA, who discovered the Persian cat with a severe maggot infestation under its skin and faeces over its body.
The prosecutor, Barrister Richard Martin, quoted the RSPCA description of Elliot stating that "the maggots had eaten its back left leg".
The Whites were fined £500 each for their part but wanted to appeal against the ban imposed, which now leaves their other two cats to being re-homed.
The defence, Barrister Robert Griffiths argued that Elliot’s health had only deteriorated in the last few days of its life, in late August of last year.
Neighbour Lynn Riggs, has been the White’s neighbour for eight years, and said, when called to the stand, "They have always cared for Elliot and their pets".
Barrister Griffiths also told the court that the Whites had locked the Persian cat up in the house for 3 months in order to groom it.
But Elliot grew increasingly restless at this and it could have contributed to it failing to groom itself in the last few days of its life.
RSPCA inspector Graham Hammond, who found Elliot, said, "Putting any animal to sleep is distressing, but at least its not suffering any more".
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