A reckless driver has admitted causing the death of a dog by driving a quad bike dangerously in an Aberdeen park.
Grant McKenzie was due to go on trial at the city’s sheriff court yesterday accused of riding the 4×4 round Danestone Country Park before hitting Amanda Cardy’s beloved collie Ruby.
But the 25-year-old changed his plea at the last minute after CCTV footage was reviewed in court before the case was heard.
It is understood as a result of the collision Ruby’s spine was dislocated and her lungs were punctured.
And her injuries were so severe she later had to be put to sleep by a vet.
Ruby’s death left Ms Cardy devastated, and in the days after the incident she said she had lost her faith in human decency.
The 50-year-old had rehomed the Collie dog from an animal shelter around five years ago.
That evening she had taken her eight-year-old pet on her favourite walk around the country park.
Ms Cardy previously said she had been walking down a park path at around 6pm when she heard an unexpected noise.
She turned to see a quad bike being driven straight at her and tried to dodge out of the way.
As McKenzie, of 11 Beechwood Road, Aberdeen, swerved the quad bike round Ms Cardy he hit Ruby – fatally wounding her.
Amanda rushed the pet to Ashgrove Veterinary Centre where staff x-rayed her and found that her lungs had been punctured.
An MRI scan revealed that Ruby’s spine had been dislocated with the blunt force of being hit by the quad bike.
Vets were forced to drain the fluid from the poor pet’s chest three times and she was kept in overnight.
However, by the next morning Ms Cardy had to take Ruby to a specialist in Glasgow for further help, but she could not be saved.
In court yesterday McKenzie pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at the country park on September 26 last year.
McKenzie also admitted driving while disqualified, and with no insurance.
Sheriff Graeme Buchanan deferred sentence until next month for the preparation of reports.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “This was a very sad and disturbing incident which must have been incredibly distressing for the dog and her owner.
“Thankfully, cases like this are extremely rare.
“It is now up to the court to decide an appropriate sentence.”