A professional dog handler has been handed a life ban for keeping all animals and 12 weeks in prison after he left two dogs locked in a van on one of the hottest days of the year.

Lee Ellerton, 37, of Riley Street North in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent was sentenced today (January 27) at Fenton Magistrates Court for causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs.

He had denied the charges but magistrates found him guilty of six charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

Mr Ellerton, who worked for a security firm, had left the dogs in his van during 30 degree heat on July 1 last year. A member of the public called the RSPCA and inspectors were immediately sent to the van which was parked in Holehouse Road, Abbey Hulton.

Inspector Julie Lyons arrived shortly afterwards but sadly one of the dogs, a tan German Shepherd named Sky, had already died and was in rigor-mortis.

The second dog, a black and tan German Shepherd called Duke, had collapsed and was unable to move. He was taken to a vet and despite a desperate attempt to revive him, an independent vet put him to sleep later that day to prevent further suffering.

Mr Ellerton said that the dogs had been left in the vehicle for about an hour but witness statements said this could have been up to four hours.

Vets confirmed that both the dogs suffered undue stress and preventable deaths due to hyperthermia and heatstroke.

Insp Lyons said: “Although I am sure Mr Ellerton never intended his dogs to suffer in this way, I found this whole situation to be wholly unacceptable. Mr Ellerton is a professional dog handler and should not under any circumstances have left the dogs in the van. This incident was very, very distressing to deal with.

“This sentence sends out the clear signal that such behaviour is not acceptable. We have repeatedly asked members of the public not to take their animals out if they are going to be leaving them on a hot day.

“These two dogs sadly paid the ultimate price for their owner’s lack of common sense.”

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