These shocking images show a starving dog who weighed just 22lbs when he was found by the RSCPA – making him the thinnest dog ever to be rescued by the charity.

Starved lurcher Ned weighed just 10kg – less than half the average weight for his size and breed – when inspectors retrieved him from an address in Cumbria last February.

His owner, Marie Staniforth, 32, of Holmrook, Cumbria, has now been jailed for 18 weeks after being convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.

She was also banned from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge at West Cumbria Magistrate’s Court in Workington yesterday.

WARNING: Distressing images  

Starved lurcher Ned weighed just 22lbs (10kg) – less than half the average weight for his size and breed – when RSPCA inspectors retrieved him from an address in Cumbria last February

The RSPCA said pre-school owner Staniforth alerted them to the dog’s condition last year and said she claimed to have found the canine as a stray.

But magistrates found these claims to be false and ruled she had neglected Ned, who was originally called Charlie but then renamed by the RSPCA.

RSPCA inspector Martyn Fletcher said: ‘We had an enormous response to Ned’s appeal, including, crucially, a number of calls identifying his owner, who turned out to be the person who claimed to have found him.

‘I’ve never witnessed a response like it, and on behalf of myself, Ned, RSPCA Cumbria West Branch who took on the responsibility for caring for him, and all the other animals who have benefited, I’d like to say a very heartfelt thank you.’

Vets said Ned’s ‘skin and bones’ condition was a result of starvation, rather than due to a medical condition.

Dog lovers donated food and dog jumpers to the charity as he was nursed back to good health – with the animal now weighing more than double what he did when he was found. He has since been rehomed in the Midlands.

His owner, Marie Staniforth, 32, of Cumbria, has now been jailed for 18 weeks after being convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal which was starved considerably

The lurcher dog has since been nursed back to health by RSPCA inspectors and rehomed

Inspector Fletcher added: ‘A new start called for a new name, and Ned is now part of a family with three dogs who he gets on really well with.

‘His new owners have 60 acres of land which he has been having lots of fun exploring.

‘It’s a dream new home for him. In fact, whilst we’ve been in court for the past two days he’s been at the beach, on holiday, with his new family.

‘He ought to have been renamed Lucky.’