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HOW COULD THEY?

Cruel dog owners jailed after starving their pet to the point of death in ‘one of the worst cases of animal cruelty’ a court had seen

‘Justice for Tyson’ as his owners are banished behind bars

CRUEL dog owners are today behind bars after starving their Rottweiler to the edge of death.

Seven-year-old Tyson was forced to live in a tiny backyard surrounded by his own excrement while owners of Zarak Khan and Zerena Myeah let him suffer.

 Zarak Khan, 48, and Andrea Myeah, 46, were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
Zarak Khan, 48, and Andrea Myeah, 46, were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animalCredit: Evening Gazette
 Tyson was close to death after his cruel owners starved him for at least six weeks
Tyson was close to death after his cruel owners starved him for at least six weeksCredit: unknown

Concerned neighbours heard Tyson repeatedly hurling himself at the door of the home in desperation, and threw him scraps of food to survive.

When RSPCA inspectors rescued the dog he was described as being “in the last stage of emaciation”.

Teesside Magistrates were told the dog had been starved for at least six weeks and had only survived through its own fat stores before it started breaking down its body’s muscles.

Neil Taylor, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said vets were unable to operate on a festering sore on the animal’s leg because he was too weak to undergo anaesthesia.

The horrific neglect came to light in March when RSPCA officer Clare Wilson called at the house on Cadogan Street in Gresham.

While there was no answer at the door she was able to climb on a bin and peer into the back yard and was “concerned to see (Tyson) was very thin and appeared to have a sore on his thigh”.

She posted an RSPCA note through Khan’s door, but when he still failed to get in touch she returned to find Tyson “even thinner, coat matted and more emaciated than before,” said Mr Taylor.

 This is where Tyson was kept day in day out by his cruel owners - while concerned neighbours threw scraps over the wall to help him stay alive
This is where Tyson was kept day in day out by his cruel owners - while concerned neighbours threw scraps over the wall to help him stay alive
 The Rottweiler was in the last stage of emaciation when he was rescued by the RSPCA
The Rottweiler was in the last stage of emaciation when he was rescued by the RSPCA
 He was suffering from a sore on his side that had gone untreated
He was suffering from a sore on his side that had gone untreated

“Very simply he wasn’t fed - he was being starved. There was faeces, there was no food or water or shelter.

“Sadly Tyson was very poorly. In the vet’s opinion this was a prolonged period of neglect.”

In his own defence Khan, 48, who, with Andrea Zerena Myeah, had owned Tyson since he was seven months old, said his benefits had been cut for six months and he was unable to feed the dog, or himself, more than once a day.

Very simply he wasn’t fed - he was being starved. There was faeces, there was no food or water or shelter.

Clare WilsonRSPCA officer

Nick Woodhouse, defending, said Khan “was hoping he would get his benefits soon” so he could get Tyson treated by vets.

Khan himself told the court: “I was really good to the dog, I looked after that dog. I had no benefits, how could I feed that dog?”

 Myeah, who has since split from her partner, said she 'regrets' not taking Tyson to the vets
Myeah, who has since split from her partner, said she 'regrets' not taking Tyson to the vetsCredit: Evening Gazette

Helen Sabiston, for Myeah, 46, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, said her client accepted joint responsibility for the dog even though she was no longer in a relationship with Khan and lived at a separate address.

She said when Khan’s benefits were stopped and he couldn’t afford food for Tyson “she assisted, but couldn’t afford the level of sustenance he needed and was giving him one tin of dog food a day”.

“She didn’t take him to the vets because he wasn’t registered in her name,” said Miss Sabiston, adding: “It is something she regrets.”

 Khan claims he didn't have the money to feed Tyson because his benefits didn't cover the dog food
Khan claims he didn't have the money to feed Tyson because his benefits didn't cover the dog foodCredit: Evening Gazette

Khan and Myeah were both found guilty in their absence at a previous hearing of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to ensure the meeds of the animal were met.

Chair of the magistrates Frances Linsley said it was “one of the more serious cases of neglect” she had seen.

She jailed Khan for 18 weeks, ordered him to pay £500 costs and an £80 victim surcharge and disqualified him from keeping an animal for five years.

Myeah was jailed for 12 weeks and also ordered to pay £500 costs and a £80 victim surcharge. She was also disqualified from keeping an animal for five years.

 Tyson is said to be getting back to normal after spending time at the RSPCA to recover
Tyson is said to be getting back to normal after spending time at the RSPCA to recoverCredit: unknown
 Tyson has put on a lot of weight to get to a normal size after being starved for more than six weeks
Tyson has put on a lot of weight to get to a normal size after being starved for more than six weeks

Both shouted abuse at the court as they were taken away.

RSPCA inspector Clare Wilson said afterwards: “This is justice for Tyson who has been freed from his own jail cell, a little yard in Middlesbrough.

"Now his owners are going to be serving their own punishment.”

Miss Wilson added that although Tyson was “close to death” when he was rescued he is now doing well in an RSPCA rescue centre while awaiting rehoming.


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