A man from Peterhead has been disqualified from owning, keeping or working with animals for 10 years after dogs were found horrifically injured in his flat.
James Miller, 46, of Slains Court, Peterhead pled guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide veterinary treatment for his dogs, Cyrus and Blue.
The sentence, which includes a 100-hour community payback order, followed an investigation by the Scottish SPCA. It comes days after a woman in Argyll was banned from keeping dogs for two years.
Scottish SPCA inspector Fiona McKenzie said officers attended the property on April 13 after reports a dog had been injured while fighting.
Blood was found “smeared” on the stairs towards the front door as well as in the hallway inside the flat.
‘Blood smears’ on the landing and along walls
Mrs McKenzie said: “Miller informed us that the dogs had a fight the previous Saturday night, that the dogs had been kept separate since and that the injuries were not that bad.
“On inspection, it was immediately obvious that Cyrus had severe injuries to the left side of his face.
“The wounds on his head, ear and eye looked extremely sore and had a yellow discharge consistent with infection. The room Cyrus had been kept in had a lot of blood smeared on the walls and a small amount of dog faeces.
“The second dog, Blue, also had a wound on the left side of his face. This wound appeared to be older as the skin was swollen and thickened with a yellow infected crust.
“Miller stated that he had not sought any veterinary treatment for either dog.”
The dogs were removed from the flat and immediately taken to a local vet for assessment.
Cyrus’s left ear was so badly swollen it could not be examined while there were signs of infection and there were scars on the right ear, as well as broken teeth.
Mrs McKenzie added: “The wounds on Blue’s cheek had become thickened and infected and one of his claws was swollen and infected. One of his legs were scarred and swollen, consistent with bites from another dog.
“Both dogs needed weeks of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories as well as daily cleaning.”
‘Not an isolated incident’
Mrs McKenzie continued: “We are pleased that a disqualification order has been granted ensuring Miller can’t have another animal for 10 years.
“Blue and Cyrus had extensive, visible wounds which had obviously been bleeding profusely.
“The older scars suggest that this was not an isolated incident.
“Without treatment, both dogs Blue and Cyrus could have died as a result of the infection due to the depth and extent of their injuries.”
If anyone is concerned about an animal, contact the Scottish SPCA confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
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