A WOMAN who left a puppy to suffer with an untreated injury has been banned from keeping dogs for eight years.

Athena Nicholle Keene, formerly of Cromwell Road, Banbury, was sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to a puppy known as Lola, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, at Banbury Magistrates Court last week.

She was disqualified from keeping dogs for eight years, which cannot be appealed for five years.

Keene, now of Wolverhampton, took Lola to a vet on April 20 this year where it was discovered she had a broken leg, which Keene claimed was caused by something falling on her.

The dog was given painkillers but her owner failed to heed veterinary advice and took her away with no further treatment.

Concerns were raised with the RSPCA, who visited Keene and discovered Lola was being left to suffer without the medical care she needed.

She was rescued by the animal welfare charity and has since recovered and found a loving new home.

Keene was also ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and pay £385 in costs.

RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “It is incredible to think that Lola was left to suffer and struggling in pain and that this agony was prolonged by the neglectful lack of action by Keene.

“There is never an excuse for leaving an animal to suffer needlessly where there is clearly an urgent need for veterinary treatment.

"Our pets are reliant on us and when an animal is injured it’s an owner’s duty to ensure they receive the veterinary care they need.

“There was no evidence to prove that the injury was deliberately inflicted but it is clear that there has been a failure to protect Lola from injury, and a huge failure in not providing appropriate treatment at the time of her injuries.”