Scottish SPCA

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Three year ban for gross neglect

Following a Scottish SPCA investigation a Stirlingshire man has been convicted of gross dog neglect after allowing his spaniel to become a 'bag of bones'. WARNING: You may find the photographs in this report distressing although the final image shows the dog fully recovered.

John Reay, 27, of Lomond Crescent, Stirling, was sentenced at Stirling Sheriff court on 22 May after he previously admitted causing five year old English springer spaniel Frisko unnecessary suffering by failing to provide him with food, water or a suitable environment to live in. He was banned from keeping animals for three years and given a 70 hour community payback order.

Inspector Louise Seddon removed Frisko from Reay's property in February 2012 after being alerted to his suffering by a local dog warden.

Frisko was immediately taken to a vet and found to be severely emaciated, weighing just under 14kg when a dog of his size should weight around 22kg. He was also suffering from an untreated ear infection, a flea infestation and skin inflammation due to urine burning the skin on his paws and groin.

Inspector Seddon said, "The vet who examined Frisko said it was one of the worst cases of emaciation he had seen in a dog in his 30 years of practice. He was literally just a bag of bones.

"We welcome the fact that Reay has been convicted of this crime and has received a ban on keeping animals for three years, but we are very disappointment that this was not a life ban.

"Reay has demonstrated that he is unfit to provide the most basic level of nutrition and care for an animal and we would have serious concerns for any animal that he may own in the future."

Frisko made a full recovery in our care and he now lives a healthy and happy life with a loving owner.