A dog suffered a painful skin and ear condition after his owner, Craig Taylor, repeatedly failed to seek veterinary treatment, leaving him in unnecessary pain and distress.
Craig Taylor was sentenced to 28 days in prison and banned from owning or keeping animals for five years after pleading guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to causing his dog unnecessary suffering.
A call was made to the Scottish SPCA’s Animal Helpline over concerns for an underweight dog with an untreated flea infestation at a property in Aberdeen. A Scottish SPCA Inspector attended in June 2025 where they were met by the owner, Craig Taylor.
On entering the property, the Inspector observed that the dog called Tank, a Shar Pei-mixed breed, had hair loss around his neck and legs and that his skin was irritated, inflamed and thickened around his neck. The flat was sparsely furnished with a strong smell of smoke and Tank had no bed.
Awful case of neglect
Taylor advised the Inspector that he had not sought veterinary treatment for Tank’s skin and had instead used a flea shampoo. A veterinary appointment was made on behalf of Taylor the following day – but Taylor failed to show. A second appointment was made, which Taylor also did not attend.
In July 2025, the Inspector returned to the property. When informed that he could sign Tank over to the Scottish SPCA if he was unable to provide appropriate care, Taylor became increasingly aggressive. Tank was then removed from the property.
He was finally taken to a vet, who found that Tank had a buildup of wax and an obvious smell in his ears. His skin was inflamed with multiple bright red scratch marks, most likely from self-trauma, on his neck. The vet estimated that Tank’s skin and ear disease had been present for around two to four weeks, causing him ongoing pain and distress. After being prescribed treatment for his condition, Tank was transported to the Scottish SPCA’s Highlands and Islands centre to further recover and be cared for. He was rehomed in October and is settling in well to his new home.
The Inspector said: “This was an awful case of neglect where the owner failed to seek urgent veterinary treatment for his dog, which resulted in his unnecessary pain and suffering.
“I am pleased that we have managed to get justice for Tank and that he is no longer in distress.”
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The Scottish SPCA’s call for a National Animal Offenders Register is one of the four main asks of its recently published manifesto. Delivering on these will help ensure Scotland is at the forefront of animal welfare and is crucial to prevent future harm and tackle repeat offending. In turn, this is essential to help achieve our mission to make Scotland the best place for an animal to call home. Read our full Manifesto and sign our petition to show your support.
