Trial of Leyland couple charged after severely injured puppy found buried alive in a field has been delayed
and live on Freeview channel 276
Spencer, a nine-week-old Pomeranian puppy, had suffered two fractured limbs before he was buried, and later had to be put to sleep, Preston Magistrates' Court was told.
Inga Ozola, 43, of Seven Stars Road, Leyland, denies causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between April 24 and 27 last year by burying the animal while he was still alive.
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Hide AdThe trial of the Latvian couple, who were assisted by interpreters throughout the proceedings, was due to start on Thursday, but Venslovas applied to delay the case as he had attended without representation.
He has since obtained legal aid but further arrangements need to be made.
Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Carmel Wilde accepted it was potentially an imprisonable matter, but indicated he should have done something about it sooner.
However the bench agreed to the adjournment and the case will now take place on April 27 and 28. A case management hearing will take place on February 25.
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Hide AdThe case comes after a dog walker's pets had sniffed out a mound of disturbed earth in the middle of a field off Shaw Brook Road, behind Worden Park, and discovered Spencer's head poking out.
He had a broken front leg and a broken rear leg and was unable to walk or move.
(proceeding)