West Midlands Police said it believed the woman, 33, was carrying the puppy in Wolverhampton in a bid to encourage people to give her money.

She was given an 18-week suspended sentence by Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court for a public order offence, causing criminal damage and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

“Solo needed a new loving home,” said Sgt Shaun Oliver from the Wolverhampton city centre team.

The force was called by staff at a food retailer on Queen Street who said the woman was threatening them after she was asked to leave.

She was later arrested at a supermarket in Chapel Ash, where she had also abused staff who requested she go because she was banned, police said.

The female puppy “wasn’t in a good way”, the force said, and she was taken to St George’s vets where she was found to be underweight, malnourished and dehydrated.

The woman admitted criminal damage and was found guilty of a public order offence. She was additionally found to have caused unnecessary suffering to an animal.

At the 9 April hearing, magistrates suspended her sentence for 18 months and she was also fined £200 and given a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

In addition, the court banned the woman from keeping a pet for three years and imposed a deprivation of ownership order, which put the puppy in the care of police.

Sgt Oliver said: “This was a sad situation for Solo but we can’t allow people to abuse our shop workers.”

While the West Midlands force usually works with animal welfare organisations to rehome pets, on this occasion a neighbourhood officer decided to take in the puppy.

“Solo is already doing so much better, as she’s starting to eat really well and is being nursed back to good health,” Sgt Oliver added.