A MEMBER of the Lurcher Search Organisation, which rescues lost dogs, pleaded guilty at Banbury Magistrates Court on Monday to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Richard Penrice, 52, of Deacon Way, Banbury, admitted the charge at an earlier hearing, when a charge of cruelty to the dog was dropped.

Mr Penrice was ordered to pay £1,500 costs and was given a conditional discharge, but through his solicitor he successfully argued that he should not be banned from keeping animals.

Tamwyn James, prosecuting for the RSPCA, had asked for a disqualification after telling the court that in June last year, a greyhound owned by Mr Penrice was discovered in an emaciated condition and could hardly walk.

She said Mr Penrice confirmed that he had owned the dog, named Tanty, for 14 years and that she had started to lose weight four or five weeks previously.

Ms James said Mr Penrice told RSPCA inspector Nickie Cooke he thought the dog had cancer and was going to die.

Ms James said the dog was taken to kennels where she put on weight and was later re-homed.

She asked for Mr Penrice to be disqualified from keeping animals, and asked for a total of £5,106 in costs.

Nick Cotter, defending, said the issue was more complicated than it seemed.

He said: "Mr Penrice has two other dogs, three ferrets, and 12 chickens. He has never been in trouble and has owned dogs since he was seven or eight.

"Mr Penrice is a member of the Lurcher Search Organisation that rescues lost dogs, and has himself rescued several animals.

"Tanty showed no signs of suffering. She was not making any noises, and she was eating well - the same diet as his two healthy dogs. A vet could find no obvious cause for the weight loss."

The RSPCA agreed that Mr Penrice's other dogs were in perfect condition.

Magistrates said the RSPCA had admitted they were not worried about the health of the other dogs and sentenced Mr Penrice to a two-year conditional discharge.

They told him that court officials would talk to Mr Cotter about compensation for legal fees incurred on the cruelty charge that was not proceded with.