The woman who moved out of her home and just left her dog Woody to die

This is the face of woman who moved out of her home and left her dog to die in filthy conditions.

Selina Darcy said 'it's half my fault' after her bulldog Woody was found starved to death in squalor in the property, the Liverpool Echo reports. She had previously moved out of the home, leaving her dog with 'someone she had let stay there'.

Darcy said she then 'buried her head' and did not check up on Woody. The 42-year-old has now been banned from keeping animals for seven years after the dog's malnourished body was found by local authority officers.

The court heard how RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes was contacted by Merseyside Police on January 15 this year after local authority officers who were repossessing the empty property had discovered the body of Woody, an adult male bulldog, belonging to Darcy.

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In his witness statement, Mr Joynes said: "Inside, the property was in squalor throughout, with faeces, dirty clothes, takeaway packaging and general rubbish spanning wall to wall. There was an extremely strong smell at the property of faeces and urine that caused burning to the eyes."

He went on to describe the moment he discovered Woody’s body on a mattress on the floor: "Woody was in extremely poor bodily condition with very little fat and muscle coverage and skeletal bones easily visible through the skin. There were a number of small dog food boxes that were all empty, there was no food or water provision available.

"His eyes were intact but sunken, claws were pointed and overgrown and the rear end was wet and dirty with diarrhoea. Some of the skin was beginning to sleuth away around the nose and face and I suspected he had been deceased for some time."

Vets carried out a post mortem examination on Woody’s body to determine the details of his death. In their witness statement describing their findings, the vet said: "Woody deteriorated to the point of death causing a severe compromise in his welfare and unnecessary suffering as his body slowly would have shut down.

"Studies have shown that when food is withheld dogs will survive for 15-38 days on average. With free access to water it can be assumed it will take two weeks to two months for a dog to die purely of starvation.

"In this case I cannot be sure water was provided or if food was provided intermittently therefore the duration of these failings will be a minimum of two weeks however it is likely longer given the evidence presented."

Inspector Joynes added in his witness statement that Darcy said she had not been at the address for around three months and had let someone stay there and she remarked: "I buried my head and had not got back in touch with them. I hold my hands up, it's half my fault. I left him with someone but I can’t give their details."

After sentencing, Mr Joynes said: "This was an incredibly difficult case to investigate as it is very hard to imagine how Woody might have suffered, left alone inside the property with nothing to eat, until he eventually died. It’s particularly tough as an RSPCA Inspector when we are called to cases such as this, where we couldn’t help an animal in time to save them.

"It’s so important that pet owners don’t bury their heads in the sand if they are struggling to look after their pets. There is help and support available and we would urge people to contact their vets, local rescues and animal welfare charities."

On November 22, Darcy, of Island Road, Garston, was sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. She pleaded guilty to failing to ensure her dog was provided with adequate nutrition, which resulted in his death.

A district judge handed her a 19-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. She was also banned from keeping all animals for seven years.

Darcy was ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and take part in a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement programme. She will pay a victim surcharge of £154.

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