FRUSTRATED RSPCA chiefs have spoken of their disappointment after the owner of a dog found with a chain collar imbedded in its neck received a £100 fine.

George King, 72, a traveller of no fixed address, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to his 14-year-old terrier dog Buster.

The dog was discovered with a metal chain imbedded into its neck during an inspection by an RSPCA inspector on February 16 this year.

Efforts to bring Mr King to justice ran up bills of £2,500 and even involved the RSPCA hiring a private detective. RSPCA solicitor Bradley Albuery told New Forest magistrates that the animal charity would not pursue a disqualification order against Mr King as such an order could not be made in his absence.

The dog was been found by RSPCA Inspector Judith Palmer when she visited Mr King's caravan on the A27 at Sherfield English near Romsey.

"The metal chain appeared to have been embedded in the dog's neck. She removed the dog and took him to a vet," said Mr Albuery.

The vet found that the skin had "appeared to have grown over the link" over a period of "many months".

The links were cut with metal cutters and the dog went into the care of the RSPCA animal sanctuary at Ashley Heath, Ringwood, where he later died from an unrelated illness.

Passing sentence, chairman of the bench, Kevin Fuller said: "We feel it cannot be right to let this matter go. It must be recorded."

He fined Mr King £100 and ordered him to pay £30 costs.

Speaking after the hearing a spokesman for the RSPCA said: "We are extremely disappointed that we could not get a disqualification as this is a very serious case."

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