A man with an “indifference” to animal welfare kept two dogs in a dark squalid shed with no access to fresh air, food or water, a court has heard.
The conditions in which Stephen Macdonald kept his labrador and lurcher were so awful that the poor animals had started to gnaw their way through the wooden door to try to escape.
And they weren’t the only dogs that the 37-year-old mistreated.
The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) also found two others in a urine-soaked run that was caked in several days’ worth of faeces.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told three SSPCA special investigators visited Macdonald’s home in Oldmeldrum on September 9 last year and found two cane Corso dogs in a kennel in the back garden.
On further investigation, the investigators saw that the dogs had “no access to water” and had clearly been left for a long period of time.
“This visit was conducted on a day when it was 20C, with the day prior recording highs of 28C,” the Crown Office account said.
“On further investigation, one investigator noticed noise coming from the garden shed.
“A gap of gnawed wood at the bottom of the shed door showed two dogs trying to get out.
“On opening the shed, the investigator found one female labrador and a female lurcher – both dogs had been kept in the shed without any ventilation or light.
“There was one metal bowl within the shed, which was completely empty.
“Neither of the dogs had access to food or water and the lack of ventilation or fresh air within the shed caused significant concern on a hot day.”
The investigators also noted that there was again several days’ worth of faeces and a stench of ammonia emanating from the shed.
The SSPCA then removed the four dogs who, upon reaching the rehoming centre in Banchory, were described as “extremely thirsty”.
Macdonald admitted grossly mistreating the animals by not providing them with food and water or a hygienic place to live.
He also pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to take the steps required to ensure the needs of his animals were met in that he failed to provide hygienic conditions or food and water.
‘These dogs were kept in frankly squalid conditions’
Defence agent David Sutherland told the court that a social work report showed that his client had a “lack of acceptance of the responsibility and a lack of regard for consequences”.
He said: “Mr Macdonald should have taken responsibility for what happened to the dogs.
“At the end of the day, he should have done an awful lot better than he did.
“He wants to be given the chance to mend his ways.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston told Macdonald that a period of imprisonment would be “entirely appropriate” given his offences.
She said: “You were responsible for the care of these animals, ultimately, and your actions show indifference to the welfare of those animals.
“These dogs were kept in frankly squalid conditions – soaked in urine and covered in faeces and without access to food, water or proper ventilation.
“They were removed by the SSPCA because of the suffering and were treated by the SSPCA and were in due course re-homed.
“It’s clear to me, from reading the social work report, that you struggle to understand the impact of your behaviour on these animals and that is of concern to me.”
As an alternative to a custodial sentence, Sheriff Johnston sentenced Macdonald, of Albert Place, Oldmeldrum, to a 12-month community payback order and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
She also disqualified him from owning or keeping dogs for five years.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.
