Max was put on an intravenous drip by a vet 
 
 A 26-year-old Nottinghamshire man has been banned from having a dog for three years after his six-month-old Labrador puppy got drunk on vodka and cola. 
 
 Matthew Cox was at home drinking with his flatmate on 22 August when his pet Max drank the vodka after he went outside. 
 
 Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard that Cox did not deal with Max because he was himself too drunk. 
 
 The dog was later taken to an emergency vet for treatment and has been rehomed. 
 
 'Downright stupid' 
 
 Cox had left Max, even though the puppy was swaying, with his flatmate before going out to DJ. 
 
 Prosecutor Maria Moore told the court two girls saw Max that evening falling over and staggering about near shops close to Cox's home at Rathvale Court in Chilwell, Nottingham, and called the police. 
 
 The dog was removed by officers because they were so worried about his health. 
 
 Mrs Moore said: "Due to the state of the dog the police officer, being an animal lover himself, took the dog to the emergency vet." 
 
 She said that Max, who Cox had owned for about three-and-a-half months, was immediately put on an intravenous drip for eight to 10 hours to flush the alcohol out of his system. 
 
 The puppy needed another 12 hours on a drip the next day to restore him back to full health. 
 
 Cox pleaded guilty to failing to ensure an animal's welfare and was disqualified from keeping or owning a dog for three years and given a two-year conditional discharge. 
 
 Magistrate J A Smith said: "It was not malicious - there were no weapons - it was just downright stupid, wasn't it? 
 
 "This could have had desperate consequences for him - a motor accident or anything." 
 
 Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector Chris Shaw said Max's case was the first of alcohol poisoning that he had seen. 
 
 "It's such a shame what's happened to the dog but he's been found a good home now and the owner has been punished." ||||| Puppy owner who got pet drunk on vodka and coke banned from keeping dogs for three years 
 
 By Daily Mail Reporter 
 
 
 
 Last updated at 8:55 PM on 4th January 2012 
 
 A man whose six-month-old Labrador puppy got drunk on a vodka and coke he'd left on the floor has been banned from having a dog for three years. 
 
 Matthew Cox, 26, had been at home in Chilwell, Nottingham , drinking with his flatmate on August 22 when he put his glass down on the floor and went outside for a cigarette. 
 
 Upon his return Mr. Cox realised his black puppy, Max, had swallowed the contents of the glass, which was made up of one quarter vodka and three quarters coke. 
 
 Re-homed: Max the labrador puppy has been handed to new owners after he got drunk on previous owner Matthew Cox's vodka and coke 
 
 Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard that Cox did not deal with Max that night, even though the puppy was swaying, because he was himself too drunk. 
 
 He left the pup with his flatmate before going out to DJ. 
 
 Prosecutor Maria Moore told the court two girls saw Max that evening falling over and staggering about near shops close to Cox's home and called the police. 
 
 Max was found at Cox's home with his flatmate around 8pm and was removed by officers because they were so worried about his health. 
 
 Sentencing: Matthew Cox was banned from keeping animals for three years at Nottingham Magistrates' Court 
 
 Mrs Moore told the court: 'Due to the state of the dog the police officer, being an animal lover himself, took the dog to the emergency vet.' 
 
 Dangerous: It took poor Max almost a day to recover from drinking the vodka and coke 
 
 She added that Max, who Cox had owned for around three and a half months, was immediately put on an intravenous drip to flush the alcohol out of his system. 
 
 He was initally in the drip for 10 hours and needed another 12 hours the next day to restore him back to full health. 
 
 The court heard that a vet said he would have suffered for around 12 hours after drinking the alcohol, mainly because he would have had trouble dealing with and understanding his surroundings when in such an inebriated state. 
 
 Max has since been given a clean bill of health and been re-homed by the RSPCA. 
 
 Cox, who appeared in court wearing blue Bermuda shorts, trainers and a black T-shirt, was arrested on August 23. 
 
 In court today he pleaded guilty to failing to ensure an animal's welfare, namely failing to prevent an animal from consuming alcohol, and was disqualified from keeping or owning a dog for three years and given a two year conditional discharge. 
 
 Cox is currently serving a prison sentence for another offence which was not specified in court and is due for release later this month. 
 
 Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector Chris Shaw said Max's case was the first of alcohol poisoning that he had seen. 
 
 He added: 'I'm happy with the outcome of the hearing.
– Attention dog owners: Next time you're drinking vodka and Coke, don't leave your glass on the floor. Matthew Cox, 26, did just that, went outside to have a cigarette, and returned to find that his 6-month-old Labrador puppy, Max, had finished his drink for him. The Brit was too drunk to help the swaying puppy, and ended up leaving him with his roommate when he went out to DJ, the BBC reports. Now Cox has been banned from having a dog for three years, and Max has found a new home. Police were alerted to the situation by two girls who saw Max, staggering and falling, outside stores near Cox's home. Officers later found Max at Cox's home, the Daily Mail reports. They brought him to a vet for emergency treatment, where he was put on an IV drip for nearly a full day to recover. Cox pleaded guilty to failure to ensure an animal's welfare, and the judge who handed down the three-year ban called his actions "just downright stupid."