An Aberdeen stablehand has admitted failing to take proper care of her pets leaving her cat infested with fleas and severely emaciated.
Kayleigh Rutherford failed to take steps to ensure the needs of her moggy Socks were met, allowing him to live in a filthy house strewn with animal faeces, household rubbish and dirty clothes.
Rutherford’s dog was also found to be living in these conditions between April and June last year.
The 27-year-old admitted the animal welfare charge when she appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court this morning.
The stablehand, was further accused of neglecting two horses at Blackop Farm, Aberdeen on July 8 last year.
She denied allowing the animals to live in filthy conditions whereby one horse allegedly developed laminitis and was suffering from an ulcerated tumour. The tumour was said to have been covered in flies.
Her not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff Kenneth Stewart deferred sentence on Rutherford, of 70 Fernhill Drive, Aberdeen, for background reports to be carried out.
Her solicitor Iain Hingston said he hoped the reports would be used to convince the sheriff not to ban his client from keeping pets in future.
She will return to court next month for sentence.
This morning Scottish SPCA inspector Fiona McKenzie said: “We are pleased Rutherford has pled guilty following our investigation.
“The court will now decide on an appropriate punishment which, under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, may include a ban on keeping animals.”