Breeders left dog to die after 'prolonged' birth

The RSPCA said the breeders' actions were "completely unacceptable"

Dog breeders who left a German shepherd to die after a "prolonged" birth have been banned from keeping animals for 20 years.

Grzegoraz Zareba, 52, of Sunnybank Court in Frome, Somerset, and Anna Bitner, 49, of Coronation Road, Frome, pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences at Bath Magistrates Court.

The RSPCA said the pair left the dog, called Ira, to develop sepsis.

“[It] is another sad example where money and profit appears to have been put before welfare and in doing so cost Ira her life," said Patrick Bailey, RSPCA inspector.

“The couple’s decision not to seek veterinary treatment at any stage, even at the point when they felt Ira had developed an infection and did appear to be unwell, is completely unacceptable,” added Mr Bailey.

Charity workers launched an investigation after they were contacted in January by a vet, who had been presented with a dead dog by Zareba and Bitner.

The pair told the vet that Ira had gone into labour on Friday evening and had given birth to three puppies, but only two survived.

They claimed Ira’s labour then stopped. But a post mortem revealed she had not passed all of her puppies, and died of sepsis as a result of internal bleeding.

Zareba and Bitner claimed Ira was fine until the Monday evening, when she suddenly appeared unwell, but failed to seek vet care. Ira died on Tuesday morning.

'Speaks volumes'

Mr Bailey, who investigated the case, said: “It is so upsetting to think about how she must have been feeling, emotionally and physically, as she endured such a prolonged, painful labour whilst she struggled to try and give birth, only to become fatally injured internally through her efforts."

The puppies were later found to be advertised for £1,000 each, which Mr Bailey said "speaks volumes about the incentive for ensuring their survival".

The pair were sentenced on 30 October.