A Dundee woman has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and handed a lifetime ban from owning or keeping dogs—an order she cannot apply to have varied or terminated for at least ten years—after she neglected and abandoned eight dogs in appalling conditions, leading to the euthanasia of three animals and the discovery of two deceased dogs within her property.
Stacey Harris, from Dundee, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday 29 July, where she was sentenced on seven charges—six for causing unnecessary suffering to dogs, to which she pled guilty, and one for failing to meet their basic welfare needs. Her offences included starving eight dogs over a period of at least two months by failing to provide adequate nutrition, and neglecting to seek veterinary treatment for painful eye conditions and ear disease.
The Scottish SPCA launched an investigation in October 2024 following a report to their animal helpline about suspected dog abandonment.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector reported: “We received a complaint that a property had been abandoned and the dogs inside had not been attended to for over a week.
“From outside the home, we could see an emaciated Sharpei-type dog with visibly infected eyes. Inside, we were met with an overwhelming smell of faeces and urine. The entire property was littered with dog faeces, rubbish, and debris.
“One of the dogs, a tan and white American Bulldog, was so malnourished it could not walk and had to be carried out.
“The remains of a deceased dog were found stuck in an upstairs bedroom doorway.
“Three emaciated Sharpei-type dogs were removed from the property using specialist equipment. Sadly, due to the severity of their untreated conditions, they were later euthanised on welfare grounds.
“The second bedroom was full of dog faeces, empty dog food bags and rubbish. This was where the body of a deceased Sharpei cross type dog was found lying on the floor.
“A veterinary examination confirmed the American Bulldog was extremely underweight, with her ribs, spine, and hip bones clearly visible. She had recently given birth and was suffering from dehydration and skin and ear infections that would have developed over several weeks.
“Two dead dogs—one a Sharpei cross and the other unidentifiable—were taken for postmortem examination, which confirmed they had died from prolonged starvation.
“This was an extremely distressing case where multiple animals suffered unnecessarily for a prolonged period which could have been easily avoided by contacting an animal welfare organisation for help if needed. It is hard to comprehend how any individual cannot attend to their own pets knowing they were locked up in a property. As a result, the Scottish SPCA and the Inspector involved are very pleased with Harris’s sentencing and hope it acts as a deterrent to others”
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