A DOG in an emaciated condition was rescued from the back yard of an Accrington house by a concerned member of the public.

Hyndburn magistrates heard that when the RSPCA took the dog to the vet it weighed just 8.5 kgs.

But eight weeks later, with no treatment but normal feeding, the spaniel type dog weighed a healthy 28.45 kgs.

Jordan Johnstone, 22, of Gloucester Avenue, Accrington, pleaded guilty to omitting to act resulting in cruelty to an animal.

He was fined £100, ordered to pay £700 costs and banned from keeping animals for five years.

Chris Wyatt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said a Mr Nigel Morris looked into the back yard of a house in Royds Street after hearing a dog barking. The spaniel type dog he saw was in such a poor condition the man took it home and contacted the RSPCA.

A neighbour later told an inspector he had been throwing bones to the dog which he thought had been abandoned.

The vet who examined the dog found it to be emaciated and estimated it had been suffering for three weeks.

Gareth Price, defending, said it was never his client's intention to cause harm to the dog.

Mr Price said: "He accepts that he didn't take positive action when the dog's condition deteriorated."