A WOMAN has been banned from owning dogs for a year after her "emaciated" border collie was found to be suffering with untreated cancer.

Wendy Coleman, of King John Avenue in Bournemouth, failed to take dog Quin to the vet despite herself noticing that the animal "[weighed] just nothing".

Despite eventual treatment, vets were later forced to put the dog down as a result of its illness.

Coleman, 44, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal on dates between October 23 and December 4 last year by failing to monitor the dog for signs of illness and disease evidenced by a mass on its neck.

A second charge, of failure of duty of person responsible for an animal to ensure its welfare, was withdrawn by prosecutors.

Matthew Knight, acting for the RSPCA at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court, said: "The defendant's border collie dog was clearly emaciated and infested with fleas.

"It had an obvious cancerous lump."

He said Coleman "did not seek veterinary treatment", despite the fact that the dog had lost "a lot of weight".

Tracey Baker, mitigating for the defendant, said Coleman accepted that she should have taken Quin to the vet when she became aware he was ill, around a fortnight before RSPCA intervention.

"She has had the dog for a long time," Ms Baker said.

"It was only in the last four weeks [before a visit from the RSPCA] particularly that she noticed that Quin was not his usual self. He wasn't going for long walks. She accepts that it was only in the last two weeks that she became concerned for the dog and accepts she should have taken the dog to the vet."

Following the dog's death, a post-mortem was conducted, which showed that the animal had been suffering from cancer in its bones, lungs and neck.

District judge Stephen Nicholls said Coleman has no previous convictions, cautions or reprimands.

"The situation deteriorated over a relatively short period of time when you became aware of the problem," he said.

Coleman will be subject to a seven-week electronically monitored curfew, and has been ordered to pay £250, as well as a £60 victims' surcharge.

She has also been disqualified from owning another dog for 12 months.

Speaking afterwards, Inspector Patrick Bailey of the RSPCA said that Quin's illness was obvious immediately.

"When I visited, he was lying flat out on his bed and just didn't move at all," he said.

"I could feel every bone in his body when I stroked him."

He urged anyone with a concern for animal welfare to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.