These shocking pictures show how a neglected dog became an indistinguishable breed with nearly no hair and elephant-like skin.
Bobby, a West Highland Terrier, was spotted by a district nurse in a dirty and flea-infested cage under the stairs during a visit to Yvonne McAllisters home on Wordsworth Close in Oswaldtwistle.
Blackburn Magistrates Court was told how the dog was in a horrible condition and indistinguishable as to what breed it was.
RSPCA prosecutor Paul Ridehalgh said Bobbys skin was pink with ears twice the size as normal and his paws were overgrown and had begun to twist.
The court heard how McAllister told the nurse that Bobby had a skin condition for which she had bought shampoo but hadnt taken him to the vet.
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She had also bought clippers but Bobby wouldnt let anyone near him to cut his nails.
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Mr Ridehalgh said during the visit Bobby didnt lift his head up at all, wag his tail or move.
An RSPCA officer later attended the property and said he was unrecognisable to him as a West Highland Terrier with grey skin which was leather-like, thick and dry.
The officer said Bobby must have had the skin condition for an extended period of time and he was subdued, lethargic and reluctant to move.
When he asked to take the dog to a vet McAllister refused and said she wanted an independent assessment.
Police were called to the property and Bobby was taken to the Myerscough Veterinary Group.
Mr Ridehalgh said Bobby had to be carried into the consultancy room because he was unable to walk and so weak he could not stand up.
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The vet said his nose was dry and cracked and she couldnt examine his ear canal because it was too inflamed.
His eyes were also covered with a thick green discharge.
The prosecutor said: In the vets opinion he was in a very poor condition. She observed that she had never seen an animal in such a condition previously.
The court was told that Bobby highly likely had an underlying systemic disease which led to secondary bacterial infection.
Mr Ridehalgh said the dog had suffered for a period of at least several months and possibly longer and had to be put down after long-term neglect.
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McAllister, 55, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
She was given a 12-month community order with 50 hours unpaid work, a three-month curfew, ordered to pay £600 costs and banned from owning or keeping animals for five years.
Yvonne McAllister said she couldnt afford to take Bobby to the vet and nothing was done on purpose.
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Representing herself at the sentencing hearing, she said: I just didnt have the money for him. I was just living on my wage. There was no way I could afford a vet.
I have always had animals. Nothing was done on purpose.
If I had the money I would have taken him. We tried to look after him ourselves but it didnt work.
Deputy District Judge Steven Jonas gave credit to McAllister for her early guilty plea and no previous convictions but warned her actions could have led to a 12-week jail sentence.
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He told her there was a high degree of fault with Bobby suffering for a prolonged period of time and the harm cause is greatest where the animal dies as a result.
He said: You have not acted deliberately. You have acted negligently and that has put yourself in danger of going to prison.
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