Penelope Ritson, otherwise known as Penny, failed to provide veterinary attention for her dog’s broken jaw and leg.
A Denny kennel owner who failed to seek veterinary attention for her dog’s broken jaw and leg has been sentenced to a four-month restriction of liberty order and has been banned from owning animals for five years.
Penelope Ritson, known as Penny, pleaded guilty to two charges at Falkirk Sheriff Court. Ritson admitted to causing a male Jack Russell Terrier type dog unnecessary pain and discomfort by failing to provide veterinary attention for a broken jaw, injured tongue and broken leg.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector attended Garth Kennels in Denny on February 1 2025 after a complaint was made to the charity’s Helpline of dog neglect. On arrival at the kennel block, the Inspector received no answer but waited until the owner returned to ensure that the dog couldn’t be moved or hidden.
The dog unable to bear any weight on his leg
Ritson told the Inspector that nothing was wrong with the male dog, although he had been in a fight. The dog was contained in a small kennel block where he was then let out by Ritson into a fenced area. The dog appeared to have an injury to his front left leg, which he wasn’t using properly, with the leg dangling when he moved and the dog unable to bear any weight on this leg. The dog had a serious injury to his lower jaw which was hanging down with teeth attached, exposing a pink raw lump that appeared to be part of his inner mouth. The Inspector also noted a foul smell coming from the mouth.
After being formally cautioned, Ritson admitted during a police interview that she had not consulted a vet when the dog had sustained the mouth injury and also admitted that she had attempted to treat it herself with leftover antibiotics. She also confessed that the dog had sustained an injury to the leg under the same circumstances a few years previously.
Caused suffering for a period of at least six to eight weeks
The dog was seized and taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA. Following a veterinary examination, the dog was given an injection to reduce the inflammation and discomfort of his jaw fracture – which is likely to have been caused by acute trauma. The hanging end of his jaw was removed, where the vet also noted during this procedure that he was missing the tip of his tongue. The fracture of the dog’s leg would have caused suffering for a period of at least six to eight weeks before the fusing of the bone. It was concluded that if the dog had been presented to a vet, he would have been given appropriate pain relief and the owner would have been offered advice on how to reduce any ongoing pain for the animal.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “Although we are pleased to see Ritson be handed a five-year disqualification order, we are disappointed that it only extends to owning and keeping animals and not ‘taking charge of’ and ‘working with or using’ animals. We would have hoped for this given she is the joint owner of an animal boarding establishment and livery yard.”
Calling for a national animal offenders
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 Ritson. 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.
To report any act of cruelty, visit our Contact Us page.
