A Peterhead man has been banned from keeping animals after starving two dogs, leading to the death of a staffordshire bull terrier named Russia.
Peter Reid, 29, kept his pets in such poor condition the dog was discovered dead in a squalid caravan by distressed SSPCA officers.
Peterhead Sheriff Court heard Russia was found alongside labrador-staffordshire bull terrier cross Flash at Peterhead Recycling Centre.
He was starving.
Depute Fiscal Ruaridh McAlister said the animal charity officers had gone to the caravan on March 30 after reports from concerned members of the public.
He said: “Upon arrival they could see the door to the caravan was wide open and a labrador cross staffordshire bull terrier was inside. It appeared very distressed.
“They then looked inside and saw there was a deceased dog lying on the sofa.
“They could not get to the dog at that stage as the other appeared to be guarding it.”
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Mr McAlister said the officers had eventually moved both dogs to their van, enabling them to take a first proper look inside the caravan.
“The first thing they noticed was the smell, which they described as horrendous,” he told the court.
“The floor was so covered in feces they couldn’t walk without standing on it and it was also covered in urine.
“No food or water was available, though there was a small bowl which had a small bit of feces in it.”
The court heard vets examined the surviving dog Flash reported that his spine was visible and estimated he “could have been in that condition for approximately two weeks”.
When the other animal’s remains were sent for post mortem the vet found the dog was “extremely emaciated” with the cause of death identified as starvation and dehydration.
Russia had also consumed part of a sock.
“If the dog had been in a healthy condition prior to its death it would have taken three to four weeks for it to end up in this condition,” the fiscal added.
The court heard Reid claimed to have last visited the dogs, giving them fresh food and water on March 24, six days earlier, and that both were still alive at the time.
Reid, whose address was given as Leask Avenue in Peterhead, admitted to two charges of causing animals unnecessary suffering by act or omission.
His solicitor Iain Jane said: “Mr Reid accepts his wrongdoing in respect of both matters.
“There are certain particular circumstances that led to the breakdown of his life at that stage as his main residence was also that caravan at that time.”
Sheriff Christine McCrossan deferred sentence for the preparation of a criminal justice social report and imposed an interim order restricting Reid from keeping or being in control of any animals.
She said: “This is a very distressing case and in court we find it very difficult seeing photographs like this.
“I’m not going to take it further until we know of your full circumstances.”
Reid will return to court on January 15.
