A woman appeared in court today and admitted starving her dog to such an extent it had to be put down.
Frances Cooke, 29, of 6D Scalpay Terrace, Oban, claimed “life got on top of her” and the dog suffered.
At Oban Sheriff Court Cooke pleaded guilty to causing a five-year-old black Labrador named Bree unnecessary suffering, in that she failed to provide it with adequate nutrition and drinking water at her home between August and December 2013.
The dog suffered weight loss and became emaciated and dehydrated and collapsed on December 6, and had to be put down on humane grounds.
Fiscal Eoin McGinty said: “On December 6 a vet received a phone call from a woman saying she had found a stray dog on the point of collapse in the Soroba area of Oban. She was asked to bring it to Oban Veterinary Surgery, which she did.
“She attended and presented the dog which was in an extremely emaciated condition and repeated that she had found it. She didn’t give her name.
“The dog’s ribs and pelvis were pronounced and it was noted the dog was crying out in pain and in distress. It was in fact semi-conscious. The dog was examined and it was felt the kindest option at that points was to put it out of its misery and it was humanely destroyed.
“There were two veterinary surgeons present. Both formed the opinion that the dog had suffered serious neglect and malnourishment over a prolonged period of time.”
Cooke was later traced by Scottish animal welfare officers who called at her house on December 11.
Mr McGinty said: “They were invited in to the flat by the accused who immediately burst into tears and indicated that the dog had belonged to her. She said, ‘I’m sorry, life got on top of me and the dog suffered, I hate myself for it’,”
In reply to caution and charge Cooke said: “I’m really sorry that I let this happen. I panicked and I did not know what to do.”
Sentence was deferred until July 22 for background reports.
