A former greyhound trainer who starved two of his dogs was banned from keeping an animal for two years, when he was sentenced in the Launceston Magistrates Court.
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Dean Richard Barwick, 43, of Beauty Point, was also fined $800 and convicted after pleading guilty to two counts of cruelty to animals and two counts of continuing offence-cruelty to animals in May 2020.
At a recent hearing Barwick, who was unrepresented by a lawyer at the time, claimed he had evidence that he was not responsible for the dogs at the time of his offences.
The court heard that the dogs got caught up in a marital dispute before the Family Court.
Magistrate Sharon Cure said that because he was unrepresented Barwick needed to be given a chance to prove his defence.
"He has not been particularly organised but these are very serious matters," Ms Cure said.
On Thursday Barwick was represented by defence counsel Mark Doyle and pleaded guilty.
Barwick was a registered greyhound trainer and owner from 2011 to 2019.
The court heard that Emma Haswell, of Brightside Farm Sanctuary had been called by Barwick's former wife who was concerned about the greyhounds Swaggy and Molly at the Deddington property.
Ms Haswell told the court that she rang Barwick and he invited her to collect the dogs on May 18, 2020. He fetched them from behind a shed.
She said he told her he had been feeding them every day.
"I put them straight in the van. I was so shocked, I have never ever seen greyhounds in that condition before," she said.
"They were severely, severely emaciated.
"It was horrifying, they had pressure sores where they had been lying down and their muscles were so atrophied they couldn't move."
Ms Haswell told the court she had rescued 2500 greyhounds over a decade.
She said she had left quickly and taken photographs within half an hour.
She said she took them to Brightside at Cygnet and fed them.
"They were absolutely ravenous, I've never seen a greyhound eat like that before, their hunger was mind blowing," she said.
Veterinary surgeon Isabel Brazier said that it would have taken several months of underfeeding for the dogs to get into the condition she saw on May 20, 2020.
The dog called Swaggy weighed 26.8 kilograms and increased to 30.8kg by June 24. The dog called Molly weighed 22.6 kilograms and increased to 29.3 kilograms by May 24.
Dr Brazierr said Barwick's failure to provide adequate nutrition had resulted in unjustified and unreasonable suffering.
The court heard from RSPCA chief inspector Lisa Edwards said that a property search revealed Barwick was a joint owner of the property until August 2020.
Ms Edwards said Barwick's ex-wife had told her she was unable to go to the property and had left them in the care of Barwick.
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