THE RSPCA has received a complaint from a retired pet shop owner after the charity killed his beloved pet pig before pursuing a private prosecution for neglect.

As first reported in the Daily Echo earlier this month, 63-year-old Robert Skinner, of Mill Street in Corfe Mullen, was taken to court by the animal charity for causing ‘unnecessary suffering’ to his kunekune, known as Mr Pig.

Mr Pig had his own nine-and-a-half acre island, a specially built pig ark and had been nurtured by Mr Skinner to become one of the oldest known pigs of his type in the world.

However, when Environment Agency officers stumbled across Mr Pig and found an ulcer on the side of his face, they alerted the RSPCA who seized him and put him to death.

The first Mr Skinner heard about Mr Pig’s demise was during an interrogation by RSPCA officers at his home.

The charity claimed Mr Pig had been suffering for ‘three to four weeks’ and that Mr Skinner’s failure to have him euthanised was in breach of animal welfare laws. A post-mortem later found Mr Pig had cancer.

Mr Skinner pleaded guilty to the charge, admitting he had struggled to come to terms with losing his ‘only companion’ and that he had not sought veterinary advice.

After hearing how Mr Skinner had bathed Mr Pig’s wound, magistrates set aside sentencing guidelines and gave Mr Skinner a conditional discharge. He was ordered to pay £1,000 towards the prosecution’s costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Magistrates ruled there had been ‘no malicious intent’ and that Mr Skinner’s actions reflected a ‘dilemma faced by pet owners up and down the country’.

After the hearing, Mr Skinner told the Echo: “He was an ugly old sod, always smelled bad and could be mischievous, but I really, really loved him – and so did everyone who met him.”

Mr Skinner occasionally uses his home as holiday accommodation and review websites had numerous references to Mr Pig as a main attraction.

One reviewer on holidaycottages.co.uk said: “The resident pig at the mill is lovely and has a real character.”

Another added: Bob [Mr Skinner] is a good landlord and happy for his guests to enjoy the property to the full. Mr Pig is a star.”

The case garnered national attention, sparking a debate about the appropriateness of the RSPCA using donations to pursue expensive private prosecutions.

In a statement the charity said: "We have received a complaint regarding our investigations and are currently looking into the matter."