Workington dog owner claimed 'malnourished' lurcher had cancer

A DOG owner whose lurcher was ‘literally skin and bone’ claimed his pet was ‘riddled with cancer’ - but vet records showed otherwise.

Jack Greggain, 28, told a court that he ‘loved animals’ but had let the nine-year-old lurcher down after it was found by police with its bones visible and weighing just over 10kg.

Greggain pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and drug driving at an earlier hearing. He was sentenced for the offences at Workington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.  

Outlining the case, prosecutor Pamela Fee said police were called to concern for Greggain’s welfare on March 23. Officers gained access to the property and found two dogs. There was a large amount of dog faeces and urine on the floor.

The lurcher dog called Zara was ‘extremely underweight’. A staffy cross was in ‘relatively good’ condition. 

It was clear the dogs had not had a drink for a while and they emptied a dish of water. Both dogs were then seized by police.

A statement from the police dog handler who attended Greggain’s address said the lurcher was in ‘a very bad state of health’ and was ‘literally skin and bone’.

The dog’s ribs were visible and it had no muscle at all. Both dogs had ‘very long nails’ which indicated they were not getting out for exercise.

The officer said it was obvious that the dogs had not had food and water for some time. The state of the house was not suitable for the dogs to be living in.

Greggain was interviewed by the police. He told officers: “She hasn’t suffered for long. That’s been a few weeks since she’s gone like that.”

He said Zara was his dad’s last dog and he had taken on his dad’s business and three dogs following his death.

Greggain claimed that the dog was ‘absolutely riddled with cancer’ and had been treated at Galemire veterinary surgery. He said he’d had dogs all his life and doesn’t mistreat them.

He told police the dog had always been ‘really thin’ and was not malnourished. He said he ‘should have just had the dog put down’.

Zara the nine-year-old lurcher was found 'literally skin and bone' when she was found by police at Jack Greggain's Workington home (Image: Crown Prosecution Service)

A statement from a vet at Galemire veterinary surgery said Zara had recently undergone a hysterectomy for pyometra and had recovered well. At the time, she weighed 16kg.

A 1cm lump was found on the dog and removal had been advised but the dog was not presented to the practice by Greggain again.

On April 2, Zara was brought back to the vet by police and weighed just over 10kg. The dog was ‘malnourished’ but there was no diagnosis of cancer.

Ms Fee said the dog had clearly suffered for some time and Greggain had not sought veterinary treatment.

The court heard that both dogs had since been put to sleep following an incident in the kennels.

Jack Greggain claimed his dog was 'riddled with cancer' but there were no veterinary records to support this (Image: Crown Prosecution Service)

Greggain was then stopped by police while driving a Citroen van on Goodman Street in Workington on March 26 – just a few days after his dogs had been seized.

Officers could smell cannabis on him and a drugs wipe was positive. He was arrested and taken to the police station.

A blood test showed he had 331mcg of Benzoylecgonine – the body breakdown product for cocaine - per litre of blood. The specified limit is 50mcg.

Cocaine and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) were also present but were below the limit.

Greggain, who was not legally represented, said: “I completely agree with everything that’s been said.

“Animals have been a big part of my life. I love animals. I’m daft enough to have tattoos of them on my arm.

“I understand I have really let that dog down but I’m bad for holding on to things.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a three-month alcohol treatment requirement and an eight-month curfew.

Greggain, of Bolton Street, Workington, was banned from keeping animals for three years and was disqualified from driving for 48 months.

He must pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

After being sentenced, Greggain said: “I’m happy with the outcome.”