An Aberdeen couple have been banned from keeping dogs for three years after being convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to their pet Husky, Kyro.
Deborah Duncan and Reece Gordon, both of Aberdeen, appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court on Monday 14 July, where they were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The pair failed to meet the nutritional needs for Kyro, a two-year-old male, grey Husky-type dog, whose extreme emaciation was described by a vet as “clearly visible and avoidable”.
Kyro was brought into the PDSA by Deborah Duncan after not eating for several days and not drinking for four. He was referred to Vets Now Veterinary Practice in Aberdeen for post-operative care following the removal of a foreign body from his stomach. Upon assessment, veterinary staff were alarmed by the dog’s condition, describing him as emaciated with visible ribs, spine, and pelvic bones.
An inspector from the Scottish SPCA said: “We uplifted Kyro into our care due to concerns about his condition and to ensure he received appropriate aftercare. The severity of his emaciation indicated that his nutritional needs had not been met for weeks, if not longer.
“The vet had found that Kyro’s condition could not be explained solely by the recent illness or the stomach obstruction, and that his lack of muscle mass suggested long-term malnutrition. In their opinion, the dog should have weighed at least 22kg in a healthy state. Kyro, however, had clearly been deteriorating for several weeks, if not months.
“The extreme thinness of Kyro was easily identifiable by any reasonable person. It is simply unacceptable that veterinary care was not sought earlier, particularly given the owner’s admission that the dog had not eaten in over a week.”
Following their conviction, Duncan and Gordon were banned from keeping dogs for 36 months, ordered to carry out 96 hours of unpaid community work, and Reece Gordon was also placed under a 12-month supervision order.
The Scottish SPCA inspector added: “Kyro should have been brought to a vet a lot sooner. He was visibly underweight, weak, and had clearly been suffering. His owners’ delay in seeking veterinary help has led to prolonged and unnecessary suffering. Kryo has since been adopted and now living the life he deserves.”
The Scottish SPCA encourages anyone concerned about the welfare of an animal to contact their confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
