A MAN who allowed a rottweiler to die in his 'squalid' home after struggling with mental health issues admitted: "I'm a real s*** dog owner."

RSPCA inspector Graham Hammond noticed a "putrid" smell when he visited Gary Trevor's flat in Canford Avenue, Bournemouth in September last year.

He then found dog Onyx dead on the floor.

A second rottweiler, Star, was "dreadfully thin" and "barely able to stand".

She was treated by a vet but eventually had to be put down as a result of the neglect she had suffered.

Records found showed that when Star had been weighed by a vet in 2013, she was 44kg.

After she was rescued at Trevor's home last year, she weighed just 22kg.

The defendant admitted one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in January.

He appeared before magistrates in Poole on Wednesday to be sentenced.

Matthew Knight, prosecuting, said the defendant had been living with the dogs in "filthy, dirty and very smelly" conditions.

"Neither [of the dogs] had seen a vet since 2014," he said.

When interviewed by police, Trevor said Star "was always skinny".

He also admitted that he didn't always feed the dogs due to his financial struggles and said: "I'm a real s*** dog owner."

"[This] sums up the case quite accurately," Mr Knight said.

Mitigating, Megan McGhee said Trevor "became unwell and was essentially living in squalor".

"In 2015, he was made the subject of a restraining order in relation to his neighbours," she said.

"The effect that this had upon him was that he was stuck in his flat.

"He was only taking the dogs out during the night.

"He was incredibly anxious about breaching the restraining order."

Ms McGhee said the dogs were being fed "human food but not dog food".

"He was residing in this property - it was completely disgusting and it's shocking that someone could be living in these conditions," she said.

"The accommodation lacks basic necessities, including a cooker and heating."

She added: "There is no information available to suggest this offence is reflective of malicious or intentional cruelty.

"He wasn't looking after himself and he wasn't looking after his dogs."

Trevor, 52, who braced his hands against the dock and spoke softly when he gave his name and address to magistrates, was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

After magistrates said credit had been given for his guilty plea, Trevor said: "It doesn't bring my dogs back, does it?"

Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Graham Hammond said: “Animals live for a long time and they always need to be looked after.

"It's a big responsibility. Owners need time, commitment and the financial ability to care for an animal.

"Sadly, this hasn't happened in this case."