Tiko’s nails had curled into his paw pads, creating a severe infection and causing pain and difficulty with his walking. He also had an infected neck wound, most likely caused by a bite.
Luke Larcombe, from Glasgow, was handed a 10-year ban from owning or keeping any animals, as well as given a Community Payback Order with two years supervision and a three-month restriction of movement order, at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday 3 August after neglecting to take his dog Tiko to the vet despite his visible distress and discomfort.
A call was made to the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline in December 2024, raising concern for Tiko. An Inspector attended the property initially, where Larcombe told them that he didn’t have a dog.
Attempts to get in touch with Larcombe again following this visit were unsuccessful. Eventually Inspector Cannon got a response, with Larcombe explaining that Tiko had very overgrown nails and that he potentially had gangrene.
On arrival back at the address, Tiko could be heard barking from within a closed cupboard in the hall, with Larcombe stating that he was only in there due to him allegedly being aggressive with strangers. Inspector Cannon asked Larcombe to bring him out so he could be examined. On inspection, Tiko’s nails were curled under his paws and his feet appeared swollen, misshapen and dirty. When Larcombe explained that Tiko refused to go for walks, Inspector Cannon told him it was most likely due to pain when walking. The Inspector also noticed a puddle of dark urine on the kitchen floor, suggesting Tiko was forced to go to the toilet within the property.
Due to concerns for his welfare, Tiko was removed from the property and taken to a nearby vet practice. He struggled to walk to the van and was clearly uncomfortable with each step he took.
A vet concluded that Tiko had been suffering for at least five months. The tissue and bones in his paws were ulcerated and necrotic, making bearing any weight on them very painful. According to the vet, the bones in his paws had also been “obliterated” by infection. He was taken to the Scottish SPCA’s Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Glasgow. Tiko was very aggressive when being checked over.
Following an examination by a vet at the charity, to prevent any further suffering and due to his welfare being severely compromised, Tiko was euthanised.
Inspector Cannon said: “Tiko was suffering unnecessarily for a prolonged period of time with severely painful feet and a neck wound, that looked consistent with a bite mark that had become infected.
“I wish Larcombe had sought some help with the situation as Tiko’s suffering was obvious and it was clear how much he was struggling with his walking and he must have been in so much pain.
“I am glad that we have managed to seek some justice for Tiko.”
Help ensure Scotland is at the forefront of animal welfare
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.
