A COUPLE whose dog had to be put down because he was so badly neglected have been banned from keeping animal for two years.

Jonathan Williams and Shanine Pilley failed to properly feed their two-year-old Doberman cross Blue and kept him in an environment detrimental to his well-being.

Williams, 26, and Pilley, 30, of Lyngford Square, Taunton, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an adult male dog.

David Bell, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said when an inspector called last November, Blue was tethered on a four-foot rope in a lean-to littered with rubbish and building debris.

"The condition of the dog was poor, he was very thin, with scabby skin and had an open wound to his tail which was bleeding," said Mr Bell.

"No food or bedding was available and there was no dog food in the house, while the dog had never been taken to a vet."

The emaciated dog was confiscated and put on weight when he was housed at the RSPCA at West Hatch.

A vet said the dog's welfare had been "severely compromised" over several months.

Mr Bell said Blue's condition improved and he put on weight at West Hatch, but he was uncontrollably aggressive with other dogs, particularly when food was present.

"An animal behaviourist concluded he wasn't a dog that could be safely re-homed, so he was euthanised," added Mr Bell.

William Haste, defending, said the couple were full of remorse and had co-operated fully with the RSPCA.

As well as the two-year ban on owning animals, Williams and Pilley were both given a two-year conditional discharge and both ordered to pay £200 costs.