Two dogs were found emaciated at a property in Ross-shire.
A Tain woman who caused her two dogs to become severely emaciated has been sentenced to a £300 fine and handed a ban on owning animals for 5 years after failing to provide an adequate diet or seek veterinary attention.
Chloe MacKenzie pled guilty to a charge after admitting to causing her two female dogs unnecessary suffering by failing to provide an adequate diet or veterinary care.
Calls were received to the Scottish SPCA Helpline providing information that there were two emaciated dogs living at the address.
One dog – a German Shepherd – was found to be in poor body condition when rescued following a visit from the Scottish SPCA and Police Scotland on April 4 2024. It was then taken to the vet for examination. One of the bedrooms in the property was described as having several piles of dog faeces on the floor.
A second dog – a Boxer – was reported to have been hidden in the property by MacKenzie at the time of the Scottish SPCA’s first visit and was not found at this point.
Too weak to bark or make a noise
The original complainant said that they had then been given information that the second dog had been hidden in a cupboard, or similar, and that it was in too weak a condition to bark or make a noise.
A warrant was executed by the Scottish SPCA and Police Scotland on April 8 2024 after the information was received about the second dog.
The Boxer dog was in a severely emaciated state, struggling to walk and appeared weak. She was taken to the vet after being removed from the property.
A result of chronic neglect
The German Shepherd was described as being extremely underweight with no visible body fat. She was given a Body Condition Score of 1/9. The nails on her front feet were also overgrown to the point of affecting her paw placement when standing and walking. The vet concluded that her poor condition was a result of chronic neglect and lack of nutrition.
The Boxer was described as emaciated with multiple bones visible and a Body Condition Score of 1/9. The vet established that she had not been provided an adequate diet for a period of at least 3 months in order to cause this level of malnutrition. Both the Boxer and German Shepherd dogs were reported as having mild anaemia.
The Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “We are pleased with the outcome and the court’s decision.
Deliberate and callous cruelty
“We consider this not just to be a case of wilful neglect, but of deliberate and callous cruelty.
“The deception displayed by the accused in hiding the Boxer on April 4 at the time of the Scottish SPCA and police visit only serves to demonstrate that MacKenzie had no intention in seeking to secure or improve upon her welfare. Had that been the case, they would have surrendered her to the Scottish SPCA at the time of the other dog’s removal from the property.
“MacKenzie boasting to others that she had hidden the Boxer from the Scottish SPCA is a worrying insight into the attitude of the accused towards any living creature, and the Scottish SPCA have serious concerns for any vulnerable life in her care in the future.
A deliberate and calculated act
“Even the most inexperienced of dog owners are aware of their simple legal and moral duty to provide their animal with adequate nutrition, and a reasonable owner, at the first indication of weight loss in their animal, should address this, with either an increase in food, an examination by a veterinary surgeon, or both. The failure of the accused to do so, and the deception used to hide the Boxer, indicate to the Scottish SPCA that the starvation of the two dogs was a deliberate and calculated act.
“Both dogs have achieved significant weight gain since they have been in Scottish SPCA care, this having been achieved with nothing more than an adequate diet.
“We are concerned that without a ban, another dog or animal will be obtained by the accused and will be subject to similar circumstances.”
Calling for a national animal offenders register
The Scottish SPCA is calling for a national animal offenders register to be built into existing intelligence systems to support monitoring of individuals convicted of animal cruelty — particularly those banned from owning animals — and flag offenders like MacKenzie. Importantly, it would also help address the well-established link between those who harm animals and those who go on to harm humans. Read our full manifesto here.
The charity continues to urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cruelty on our website here.
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