A woman "incapable of caring for animals" who lied to the RSPCA was banned for life from owning pets, a court heard.
Single-mum Deborah Holden of Romney Close, Braintree, escaped prison after pleading guilty to failing to protect an animal from pain and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Holden, 45, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court yesterday in relation to the charges of neglect in caring for a bull terrier type dog called Saracen.
Sarah Otte, prosecuting, provided the background to the case explaining that the RSPCA visited Holden's home on July 28 last year.
The court heard that the RSPCA saw a black and white bull terrier with "extensive fur loss and sore patches due to itching."
The court heard that Holden said an appointment had been made for Saracen to see the vet but when the RSPCA stepped outside to confirm the appointment on the phone the vet denied any knowledge of an appointment.
Holden, who also had four adult cats in her home, had a flea infestation in her home and it was the fleas that were causing Saracen discomfort, the court heard.
Kerry Walker said in mitigation that Holden was "extremely distressed" as to the outcome of the case and "it was certainly the case that she could not afford the vet bills."
Pam Joughin, chair of the bench, ordered Holden carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work and be banned from owning pets for life.
She said: "Two hundred hours is a very high order as an alternative to sending you to prison."
Holden was also ordered to pay £300 costs.
