A dog owner who allowed his dogs to be used for fighting and left one with untreated wounds has been hit with a six-year ban.

Zaheer Ahmed, 50, from Small Heath, pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

Concerns had been raised by police due to an incident where two dogs owned by Ahmed had engaged in a fight on April 13, last year.

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Police believed the dogs could be severely injured and returned to Ahmed's address to conduct a welfare check.

When they arrived, they found two dogs at the address, including Mya, who had untreated injuries.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Ash Moore described what he saw when he arrived at Ahmed's home address after being contacted by police.

He said: "Mya was chained to a tree with no food or water available to her in a garden that was cluttered with faeces and hazards such as car parts, plastic containers and even a fridge freezer.

"Both front legs were swollen with scarring all over as typically seen when caused by dog fighting injuries.

"Ahmed claimed he had taken her to two different veterinary practices for these injuries but when I checked, both practices had no records of Mya or Ahmed."

Mya was seized by police and placed in the care of the RSPCA and was taken for veterinary treatment.

The vet who examined Mya said in their report: "Her owner failed to take reasonable steps to protect her from pain, suffering, injury and disease to the extent required by good practice.

"This was due to untreated swelling of both forelimbs and failing to seek veterinary treatment after a serious dog fight. I would have expected a reasonable owner to seek veterinary advice and to have begun treatment as appropriate for this.

"As a result of this failure Mya will have suffered unnecessarily for a minimum of two weeks but in reality likely longer, due to untreated swelling of both forelimbs and untreated wounds from a fight."

Alongside the six-year ban, which Ahmed cannot appeal for three years, he was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 80 hours unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on September 26.

He must also pay £200 costs and a £114 victim surcharge. He was also deprived of ownership of Mya who can now be rehomed by the RSPCA.