Dogs were found in “one of the most disgusting and abhorrent neglect situations” seen in years
A woman has been convicted of failing to adequately feed and seek veterinary attention for her two dogs and keeping them in a hazardous environment.
Samantha Stockdale, from Aberdeen, was banned from keeping animals for five years after she admitted breaches of animal welfare legislation on April 13 at Peterhead Sheriff Court.
She was also made subject of a community payback order and will be supervised for 12 months.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector attended Stockdale’s property on 25th June 2024, after a concern for the welfare of 4-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Marshmallow and 6-year-old German Shepherd Max, were raised with the Scottish SPCA’s Animal Helpline.
Upon entering the property, it was clear the house was extremely unkept, and that both dogs had not been taken care of for a long time.
Weeks’ worth of faeces and urine
A Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “The whole house was in disarray. There were rubbish bags and broken glass littering the floors. The bedroom was cluttered with personal items and cigarette buts – all easily accessible to the dogs. There was several days if not weeks’ worth of faeces and urine throughout the property, the majority of which was loose or diarrhoea. Some of it had already turned mouldy.”
Max and Marshmallow were extremely underweight, with their hips, spine and ribs clearly visible from a distance.
The Scottish SPCA Inspector added: “Their behaviour showed they had had no access to appropriate food or water for a long time. There were empty packets of food across the floor that had been chewed by them, and I found Max drinking from the toilet bowl. They were ravenous when we offered them treats and grabbed at them frantically. It was heart-breaking to see there in such poor conditions.
“There was no bedding or comfortable resting area for the dogs other than a piece of carpet which was also soiled with faeces and urine. Two dog bowls were also seen within this contaminated area and contained no food or water.
One of the worst cases of extreme neglect
“It is one of the worst cases of extreme neglect I have seen in years. It was totally disgusting, abhorrent and heart-wrenching to see that someone could keep animals in those conditions.”
It was then decided it was in the best interest of the dogs to be removed from the property and taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA. They were transported to the society’s Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre in Aberdeen.
They later underwent veterinary examination, which found they had been unnecessarily suffering for over a month. Max’s fur was matted and had dried faeces on it. He was skeletal, with a body score of 1/9. His nails were also overgrown on all four paws, which would have been uncomfortable and painful for him. Marshmallow was also extremely underweight, with a body score of 2/9. Her coat was also soiled with faeces, and she had an infection in both ears for which she was given treatment.
The vet said: “Their owner would have been fully aware that they were hungry because of their behaviour around food. They also would have been fully aware that their food intake was not adequate for them because of their poor body condition.
“In my professional opinion Max and Mallow would have taken six weeks of inadequate nutrition to be in the body condition they were in when I examined them. During this time, they were caused unnecessary suffering as they would have been distressed seeking food all the time.”
Reacting to the sentencing, the Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “We are pleased with the Sheriff’s decision. Stockdale showed very little regard for her dogs’ welfare.
Criminals like Stockdale cannot be allowed to continue to hurt other animals undetected
“However, while a ban is the only way to ensure that this does not happen again to any animal, there is currently no system to monitor disqualification orders or track repeat offenders, which will significantly reducing the power of this sentencing. That’s why we’re calling for the creation of a National Animal Offenders Register, as criminals like Stockdale cannot be allowed to continue to hurt other animals undetected. This is a key step in preventing future harm, and one that the next Parliament must consider seriously. These policy decisions play a crucial role in delivering our mission to make Scotland the best place in the world for an animal to call home.”
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.
To report a concern of cruelty, visit the Scottish SPCA website.
