THE owner of a German Shepherd dog that was left chained in a backyard unable to get fresh water has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Lorne Caine of Poynton Close, Bury, admitted at Bury Magistrates Court to an offence of causing unecessary suffering.

David McCormick for the RSPCA said inspectors had called at Caine's home after hearing barking and discovered animal tethered by a metal chain which had been padlocked to a drain pipe. The dog was found to be at least four kilos under weight.

Mr McCormick said it had been denied nearly all of the five "freedoms" associated with looking after animals. These included being healthy, properly fed and able to enjoy normal behaviour.

In her defence Caine said: "This was something that was not meant to happen, it just did."

She also claimed the animal was meant to be a guard dog and he had been chained up after she had taken advice from the police and RSPCA.

Magistrates also imposed a 150-hour community punishment order and told to pay a £200 contribution to the £1,900 costs claimed by the RSPCA.