A DOG owner who abandoned his Staffordshire Bull Terrier has been banned from keeping animals.

Father-of-one Scot McDonnell claimed to love the dog, but left it without food, water, walks and companionship, in a room with glass all over the floor, as he couldn't be bothered to walk the short distance back to his house to care for it.

The underweight animal was finally rescued after RSPCA inspectors, who had been watching the house and had repeatedly tried to squirt water to the dog through an air vent, alerted police who broke in.

McDonnell, who alleged he had been too tired to go and look after the terrier, refused to sign it over to the RSPCA, leaving the charity with a £1,500 bill, Burnley Crown Court heard.

It was taken to a vet and put on two kilos in just 17 days after it was properly fed.

The defendant, 30, of Hardman Terrace, Stacksteads, admitted leaving a dog unattended and failing to provide it with a suitable diet.

He had been committed for sentence by Burnley magistrates as he was in breach of a suspended jail term.

McDonnell was fined £250 and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Judge Robert Altham also ruled the RSPCA could take possession of the dog to provide it with a better home.

Adam Lodge, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said officers kept watch on the house for 46 hours.

On April 21, they saw the dog. It appeared lean and a water bowl was upturned. An inspector left cards.

The next morning, there was still no evidence of water.

Mr Lodge said officers tried to pass the dog water through a vent.

It was still in the kitchen the day after and there was no sign of food or water.

The RSPCA could not find out who lived there, police were called and they forced entry on April 23.

Kevin Donnelly, defending, said McDonnell was staying with friends but the dog had soiled carpets and stolen food, and had not been allowed to stay.