An Ayr woman has been given a three-year ban on owning and keeping animals after keeping more than 20 animals, including six neonatal kittens, in a house covered in faeces and urine with no access to food or water.
Claire Lammie was sentenced at Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday 25 May after pleading guilty to breaching animal welfare legislation.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector attended Lammie’s property in July 2025, after a Police Scotland officer made a report of concern for the animals inside, to the society’s Animal Helpline.
The house was in an extremely poor state, covered in household and food waste.
On the top floor, there was a large crate with 11 rottweiler-cross type puppies inside, which were wet and visibly trembling. On the lower level, there was a cat with her six kittens, who were only days old, inside a plastic box.
The floors were heavily stained with urine and faeces
A Police Scotland officer informed the Inspector that they had given the animals water and some food after seeing they had access to none.
The Inspector said: “It was clear straight away that the animals were not being provided with a suitable environment. There was a very strong odour throughout the property. There were piles of faeces within most rooms, and the floors were heavily stained with urine and faeces – attracting a large number of flies.
“The room the kittens were in was unclean and stained with birthing fluids.”
All the animals – one dog, 11 puppies, four cats and six kittens – were removed from the property and taken to a local vet for further treatment. Four of the 11 puppies and one adult cat were thin and underweight with a body score of 3/9.
The Scottish SPCA Inspector added: “We are pleased with the Sheriff’s decision. Lammie kept these animals in an extremely unhygienic environment and showed complete disregard for their wellbeing, causing them significant unnecessary pain and suffering.
A National Animal Offenders Register must be introduced
“However, for this ban to work effectively, a National Animal Offenders Register must be introduced. Delivering on this is crucial to preventing individuals like Lammie from going on to harm animals again.”
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 individuals like Lammie. 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 and sign our petition to show your support.
To report a concern of cruelty, visit our Contact Us page.
