Connor Cowie’s dog had a large abscess on the side of his face.
WARNING: SOME READERS MAY FIND THE CONTENT DISTRESSING
A man who failed to seek urgent veterinary attention for his dog has been sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Connor Cowie, of Aberdeen, was handed a five-year ban on owning and keeping all animals on Monday 23 March, as well as Community Payback Order, and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work over an 18-month period.
In July 2025, a call was made to the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline expressing concern for a dog, who the caller stated had a large swelling on the left side of its face in need of veterinary attention.
Helpline call reveals urgent concern for dog’s swollen face
A Scottish SPCA Inspector attempted to make contact with the owner a number of times before she eventually got him on the phone. She told the owner, Connor Cowie, that she was aware his dog required medical attention. Cowie was verbally abusive to the Inspector down the phone. Concerned for the dog’s welfare, the Inspector called Cowie straight back and advised that his language was unacceptable and that she was only calling to offer assistance for his dog.
Abscess confirmed on elderly Staffie, Kaido
The Inspector attended the property and was shown Cowie’s dog – a 14-year-old male Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Kaido. The swelling on his face was immediately obvious, with the Inspector suspecting that it was an abscess. Cowie confirmed that he could not afford veterinary treatment and was not registered with the PDSA. The Inspector said that she would take Kaido to the vet but could only provide basic vet treatment.
By the time Kaido was at the vet, his swelling was producing a bloody discharge. An exam confirmed an abscess. The vet did not want to perform a surgical procedure at this time due to the location of the abscess so instead, they handed over a seven-day course of antibiotics to start the following day at home to the Inspector and said that Kaido should be brought back in a week for a check-in. The Inspector passed on this information to Cowie when he arrived at the vet practice.
Owner ignores follow-up vet care
Kaido was registered at the vet by the Scottish SPCA and an appointment was arranged for re-examination. Cowie advised the Inspector when she called about the appointment, however, that he had attended the PDSA with Kaido but left before his appointment as he alleged he was being ‘aggressive’ to other dogs in the waiting area.
The Inspector also attended Cowie’s address to ensure that the home was suitable to live in. The Inspector noted that the property was dirty, cluttered and that the smell of excrement was strong. A new appointment was arranged at the time for Kaido to go to the vet. A number of attempts were made once more to reach Cowie following this visit but he did not respond. Growing increasingly concerned for Kaido’s welfare and Cowie’s refusal to take him back to the vet, the Inspector obtained a warrant to enter the property and rescue the dog.
Warrant authorised: Kaido seized by Police and Scottish SPCA
In August 2025, the Scottish SPCA attended the property alongside Police Scotland and seized Kaido. He was taken to a vet, who confirmed that Cowie had caused him unnecessary suffering after failing to have Kaido’s painful ear infection treated and had allowed it to get so severe that an abscess had formed. Cowie also failed to continue with the necessary follow-up treatment at the vet after the Scottish SPCA’s initial assistance – causing further suffering. The vet concluded that Kaido’s condition would have taken at least two months to be as severe as it was. He sadly had to be euthanised due to his condition.
The Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “I am pleased with the sentence but extremely disappointed with Cowie. I believed he had his own struggles and I made an effort to help him.
“No excuse for Kaido’s suffering”, Scottish SPCA Inspector responds
“He had absolutely no excuse for not providing his dog with veterinary treatment as I arranged everything for him, from covering the cost of initial vet treatment to assisting with registration at the PDSA and making appointments.
“I can only conclude that Cowie held no regard for his dog’s welfare. This was also substantiated by his failure to take on advice and clean his property.”
The Scottish SPCA’s key mission is to safeguard the welfare of all of Scotland’s animals, and we are tirelessly working to also make this a top priority for parliamentarians. Our recently published Manifesto outlines four key asks which will help ensure Scotland is at the forefront of animal welfare. Delivering on these asks is crucial to prevent future harm and tackle repeat offending, which will 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.
To report any act of cruelty, please Report a Concern.
