A COUPLE have been banned from owning dogs for two years after their elderly pet was in such a ‘sorry state’ it had to be put down.

Julie Goward applied the household cleaning product Borax to border collie Jess’s skin and she and her husband Clive have both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dog at their home in Days Road, Swanage.

They both admitted two charges, which included failing to provide veterinary care for a problem with Jess’s ears between March 29 and June 21.

The second charge stated they failed to ensure Jess was protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

The husband admitted the charges in October, when his wife was unable to attend court due to ill health. She has now admitted the two charges and a third offence of causing unnecessary suffering by ‘applying an irritant, namely Borax’ to Jess’s skin, The 15-year-old dog was put down after being taken to a vet and found to have ‘a string of health problems’.

Goward, 62, told the court the situation ‘got out of hand’ due to the serious medical problems affecting his wife, 58.

The pair were given a two-year conditional discharge and were each ordered to pay costs of £350. After the hearing an RSPCA spokesman said there was ‘no excuse to let a once-loved pet suffer in this way’.

She said: “In this case Jess, a 15-year-old black and white Collie, was a forgotten old pet who was in a sorry state and in desperate need of veterinary attention due to severe ear infection and skin condition.”

She urged those struggling to afford medical care to contact charities like the RSPCA and PDSA.