A LONGFORD couple have been fined and banned from keeping a dog after causing unnecessary suffering to their pet - but have been allowed to keep their two cats.

Husband and wife Terence and Gladys Mather, of McKee Avenue, pleaded guilty to failing to provide necessary care and attention to their 13-year-old cross-bred mongrel Gazza on Tuesday at Warrington Magistrates Court.

Neighbours alerted the RSPCA in August last year when they became concerned about the deteriorating condition of the dog.

RSPCA inspector Jeremy Fairclough told the court how Gazza had an open sore on his back, was riddled with fleas and had a large growth on his ear that was bleeding and oozing.

A further examination by a vet revealed a catalogue of neglect. The dog was found to have a massive infected tumour, which covered the ear canal.

The other ear was infested with ear mites and eggs and he had developed a cauliflower ear because of chronic head shaking in an attempt to dislodge the mite problem, the court heard.

The dog also had a chronic skin disease, an open sore on his back and lesions to his hindquarters and legs.

Gazza's skin was inflamed, he had conjunctivitis and his nails were so long that he had difficulty walking. The condition was so severe that the pet had to be put down.

Gary Heaven, defending, said the couple had owned the dog for around 13 years, since it was five weeks old, and that finance was their main problem.

He said: "While early intervention and proper veterinary assistance would have doubtless been of some assistance and may have eradicated the problem, they are the kind of people afraid of debt and credit and afraid of professional persons.

"It is quite clear that they were very distressed by its condition.

"They are the sort of people who don't go to outside agencies for help. They are mortified by this prosecution."

The court heard how Mr Mather had applied cream, bought from a local shop to the animal and had used a pair of tights as a bandage for it's head.

The couple were fined a total of £400 and disqualified from keeping a dog for ten years.

But they will be allowed to retain their two cats, which were said to be in good bodily condition at the time of the last visit by the RSPCA.