A MUM-OF-SIX left two dogs without food and failed to treat painful skin conditions while she enjoyed holidays in Cyprus, a court heard.

Samantha Miller told RSPCA officers she could not afford veterinary care for the emaciated animals.

But when one of the charity's inspectors visited her Poole home he was told by one of her daughters that she was in Cyprus for the third time in a year, Bournemouth magistrates were told.

Miller, 38, of Victoria Road admitted offences against cross-breed Charlie and Staffordshire Bull Terrier Tia.

She pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals between November 15 2015 and January 5 this year. She also admitted failing to protect animals from pain and suffering, injury and disease.

She was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and banned from keeping animals for 10 years. She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60.

Her 16-year-old cat will now be signed over to a friend, her eldest daughter is taking care of another of her dogs and the RSPCA will remove a spider and a snake from her home. Charlie and Tia have become the property of the RSPCA and will be re-homed - they have made a full recovery.

Mrs Miller, who broke down in tears when the ban was read out, was visited four times by an RSPCA inspector who gave her advice and told her to feed the animals and take them to the vet.

But she failed to heed the advice and, when the condition of the dogs deteriorated, they were taken away from her.

Magistrates heard the RSPCA inspector had given Miller food for the dogs, but she criticised it.

The animals had painful skin conditions because they were "riddled" with fleas, open wounds, sores and conjunctivitis and were clearly incredibly uncomfortable and suffering, the court heard.

Miller told the court she was in debt and could not afford the vet. She said she was ashamed and did not realise the seriousness of their condition.

After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Jo Story told the Daily Echo: "I think it is an appropriate sentence. If she didn't understand it was serious, she wouldn't understand how to look after other animals.

"We really try to provide help and guidance and my colleague could not have done any more. She ignored the advice continually."