A man has been banned from keeping dogs after accidentally starving his Border Collie Molly.
Molly was so emaciated by the time the SSPCA rescued her, that their employee could “feel all her bones”.
Owner Paul Kerr, 44, insisted he had been feeding the animal, but her condition was so serious that the SSPCA took her straight to a vet.
She was found to have an emaciated body condition and signs of bowel disease, but thankfully an emergency diet quickly had the pooch on the mend.
Fiscal depute Jennifer Pritchard told Aberdeen Sheriff Court an SSPCA employee first attended Kerr’s address on Clifton Road in Aberdeen on September 17 2019 and left a calling card when there was no answer.
It was a similar story the following day until on September 20 Kerr’s partner finally answered the door and let her in.
‘The dog was very quickly back to full health’
The SSPCA staff member asked Kerr, who was in the living room, if she could inspect Molly.
Ms Pritchard said: “On doing so, it was visibly evident that Molly was emaciated.
“She ran her hands over her body and could feel all of her bones.
“The witness explained to the accused that Molly was extremely underweight and asked if she had seen a vet.”
Kerr replied that their PDSA registration was out of date and he’d have to renew it.
The fiscal depute went on: “The accused’s partner advised that Molly was getting three or four feeds a day which consisted of a quarter tin of wet food and a couple of handfuls of dry food.
“They also advised that she had diarrhoea approximately twice a week but was otherwise healthy.”
The SSPCA seized Molly and took her to a vet in Bieldside to be examined.
She was found to be suffering from an emaciated body condition.
Blood tests also revealed low folate levels, which can be associated with bowel disease and other bowel issues.
Molly was then taken to the SSPCA’s Drumoak centre where she was put on a diet of easily digestible food.
‘This was not a deliberate case of neglect’
Within just 6 days she had gained more than 1.5kg.
Ms Pritchard said: “The vet specialist estimated that for Molly to have lost the weight she did it would have taken at least four to six weeks and that the owner would have been aware of weight loss.”
Kerr, of Clifton Road, Aberdeen, admitted failing to provide Mollie with appropriate care and treatment, including adequate nutrition, resulting in her becoming emaciated, and then failing to seek vet treatment for her.
Defence agent Iain McGregor said there wasn’t a “great deal” he could add to a court-ordered social work report, but explained Kerr had “certain learning difficulties”.
He added: “His position is that the dog was being fed. There was food within the premises.
“From what I understand, the dog was very quickly back to full health.
“There’s nothing beyond underfeeding here.”
Mr McGregor said Kerr had no previous convictions.
‘We would have liked him to have received a longer ban’
He added: “I don’t think it’s a situation where there was any intentional ill-treatment of the dog.”
Sheriff Eric Brown told Kerr: “I’m satisfied, on the basis of the information I have, that this was not a deliberate case of neglect on your part.”
He fined Kerr £135 and banned him from keeping dogs for three years.
Following the case, SSPCA chief inspector Alison Simpson welcomed the ban but said they had previously raised the issue with Kerr.
She said: “We are pleased that Paul Kerr has been banned from keeping dogs for three years.
“However, prior to this case, action had been taken previously by the Scottish SPCA in relation to Kerr allowing Molly to become emaciated.
“Given Kerr allowed Molly to get into an emaciated body condition a second time, and did not recognise the problem or show concern, we would have liked him to have received a longer ban.
“We hope Kerr will seriously consider his ability to look after any animal in the future.
“If anyone is concerned about the welfare of an animal, they should call our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.
