CONVICTED (2017) | James Warner, born c. 1954, of Kirklandhill, Tyninghame, Dunbar EH42 1HX – tied his poorly dog in a pillowcase and left her behind a cement works
Cruel James Warner tied Lily in a pillow case and dumped her at a cement works. She was discovered barely alive and had to be put to sleep.
James Warner admitted abandoning terrier-type dog Lily, who sadly had to be put to sleep. He was prosecuted following a Scottish SPCA investigation.
After accepting a plea bargain Warner was given a £600 fine, but not banned from keeping animals.
Commenting on the investigation and court case, Scottish SPCA inspector Stephanie McCrossan said: “Whilst we respect that Warner has been dealt with by the courts, the outcome is particularly disappointing.
“Warner admitted at interview that he believed the dog, Lily, was dead, but was not entirely sure when he deliberately dumped her inside a pillowcase not far from his place of work.
“As can clearly be seen from the photographs Lily was in desperate need of treatment and was suffering from a number of chronic skin conditions which I believe would have been causing her considerable pain and discomfort.
“When I realised that Lily would have been trapped, alive inside that pillowcase for a number of days I felt sick.
“I lost sleep over this case and to find that he accepted a plea bargain and only received a £600 fine without a ban has been a heavy blow.
“This case really highlights our push for tougher and more consistent sentencing.
“There is no excuse for animal cruelty and more animals like Lily are suffering needlessly.”
Sentencing: £600 fine. No ban on keeping animals was imposed by the court.
CONVICTED (2017) | William Dobbie, born 26 September 1986, previously of Dundas Street, Bathgate EH48 and more recently (2022) of Deanswood Park, Deans, Livingston EH54 8NZ – left three dogs to starve so badly their bones protruded through their skin.
Dobbie pleaded guilty to failing to provide the dogs, called Mitzi, Sugar and Kane, with appropriate and adequate nutrition and failing to obtain adequate veterinary treatment to treat their infestation with fleas.
The Scottish SPCA received a complaint in October 2016 about the way Dobbie’s animals were being treated. After meeting police outside the house, inspectors from the animal charity gained access to the property.
Inspector Jenni Surgeon said, “On entering the property I discovered a Staffordshire bull terrier in a cage behind the door with no access to food or water.
“She was extremely thin and her bones were protruding through her skin.
“The cage contained large quantities of faeces, some of which had mould, indicating the cage had not been cleaned for quite some time.
“There was a foul smell inside the property which was caused by the multiple deposits of faeces throughout the house.
“The property was very unhygienic which put the animals at risk of injury, disease and illness.
“There were two extremely underweight Jack Russell terriers roaming around the house, both of which had staining to their legs and lower abdomen which has most probably been caused by the pair lying in their own urine and faeces.
“We welcome the fact that Dobbie has been dealt with by the court and the sentence handed down.
“We hope he will give serious consideration about his suitability to care for other animals in the future.
“Thankfully, the dogs have now received the proper treatment and have made a full recovery.”
Sentencing: Five-month restriction of liberty order. Banned from owning or keeping animals for just three years (expired July 2020).
CONVICTED (2017) | Frith Mitchell, born c. 1973 , of New Street, Musselburgh – failed to feed his pet cat properly or take him to a vet for urgent treatment.
Mitchell pleaded guilty to causing his cat, named Tiga, unnecessary suffering through failing to provide a suitable diet and failing to seek veterinary treatment.
His court appearance followed an investigation by the Scottish SPCA.
Commenting on the investigation and court case, Scottish SPCA Inspector Stephanie McCrossan said: “Tiga was in a very poor skeletal condition.
“He was dragging his leg, which was protruding at an awkward angle, across the floor as he walked and it was clear he was in urgent need of veterinary treatment.
“After taking Tiga to the vet, we found out that he had several health issues which would have caused him to suffer unnecessarily for a prolonged period of time due to his owner failing to seek the necessary veterinary treatment he clearly required.
“Unfortunately the vet made the decision to put him to sleep due to the severity of his conditions.
“We are pleased that Mitchell has been dealt with by the courts and hope he will give serious consideration to his ability to care for animals in the future.”
Sentencing: 85 hours of unpaid work. 10-year ban on keeping animals (expires June 2027).
CONVICTED (2015) | Natalie Mclean Livingstone (aka Nat Amos or Nat Davidson), born 07/01/1991, of Jean Armour Drive, Dalkeith EH22 2LN – neglected and starved a dog, who had to be put to sleep
Livingstone pleaded guilty to failing to provide a suitable diet and veterinary care for a female terrier named Indi, contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
Commenting on the investigation and court case, a Scottish SPCA undercover inspector said, “When Livingstone took a severely underweight Indi to a vet, she claimed she had only taken ownership of her two days previously.
“The vet advised that Indi was severely malnourished and it was unlikely she would survive any treatment. Sadly, she had to be put to sleep to prevent any further suffering.
“In the vet’s opinion, Indi had been deprived of food, water and veterinary care over a prolonged period of time.
“A post-mortem examination confirmed Indi was malnourished and had no food in her stomach or intestines, indicating she had not eaten for the last 48 hours.
“When we contacted Livingstone, she claimed she had bought her online and had picked her up from an unknown male.
Livingstone with then partner Alan ‘AJ’ Amos. The pair lived together at Hawthorne Crescent, but Amos faced no cruelty charges
“Through our Facebook enquiries, we were able to determine that Livingstone was Indi’s owner and had been for some time.
“We are pleased Livingstone has been dealt with by the courts and that this serious case of neglect has been rightly recognised with a lifetime ban.”
Sentence: 100 hour community payback order. Lifetime ban on owning or keeping animals.
#MostEvil | John William Mackie, born 20/11/1971, formerly of Clovenstone Park, Edinburgh and as of mid 2018 a guest of the Inveravon Hotel, Loanhead, Midlothian – killed a defenceless Rottweiler by beating him before forcing two knives up his nose and a tree branch into his abdominal cavity
Sadistic Mackie subjected his eight-year-old Rottweiler, Sonny, to a severe beating, causing him to suffer extensive haemorrhaging over his body and skull.
Horrifyingly, Mackie plunged two nine-inch dining knives so far into Sonny’s nose that they weren’t visible from the outside. A 17-inch long branch was also found in the dog’s abdominal cavity.
Victim Sonny was subjected to a horrifying ordeal before he died
A horrified member of the public found Sonny’s lifeless body in bushes and called the Scottish SPCA.
When questioned, remorseless Mackie initially lied that he had been told Sonny was hit by a bus. There was no evidence of shame or regret for his actions.
Sentence: 12 months in jail. Banned from keeping animals for life
CONVICTED (2015) | Mhairi Siobhain Thomson, born 25/08/1982, of Riddochhill Drive, Blackburn, Bathgate EH47 7LB – starved a dog over several weeks until he became emaciated
The court heard Thomson’s neighbours called the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals because they thought her black and tan Staffordshire bull terrier was too thin.
When SSPCA inspectors went to the accused’s home they found seven-year-old family pet Milo with his bones showing through his skin.
Procurator fiscal Katrine Craig told the court: “The dog appeared bright but was clearly very thin. Its spine and pelvic bones were clearly visible and there appeared to be a lot of muscle wastage.
“The accused agreed that her dog did indeed require urgent treatment and gave consent for the dog to be removed immediately.”
Mrs Craig said the vet recorded the dog as being “emaciated”, with a body score of just one out of nine. She said the dog weighed 10.2kg when a properly fed dog of that size should weigh around 15kg.
She added: “The view was formed by the vet that the dog was being caused unnecessary suffering by the failure to provide adequate and basic nutrition and necessary veterinary treatment. It was estimated that for the dog to be in such poor condition the neglect would have occurred over a period of weeks.”
She said the SSPCA had put Milo on a weight gain programme and he put on 1.8kg over the next 11 days. A three-year-old lurcher belonging to Thomson’s partner was also in the house but was found to be in good bodily condition.
The SSPCA had no concerns regarding this dog which the accused claimed she’d fed at the same time as her own pet.
Thomson pleaded guilty to causing the animal unnecessary suffering between October 1 and December 4, 2014, by failing to provide him with appropriate and adequate nutrition.
Sheriff Susan Craig told Thomson she wasn’t going to fine her because her “finances are extremely restricted”.
Sentence: 80 hours of unpaid community work; banned from keeping or owning a dog for two years (expired 2017).
CONVICTED (2014) | Dean Ross, born 18 October 1984, then of Caponhill Road, Tranent but with family links to Windsor Park Terrace, Musselburgh* – starved his pet dog and buried him in the garden after the animal died from malnutrition
Dean Ross, a former soldier who served in the 40th Regiment Royal Artillery, failed to regularly feed five-year-old Weimaraner Dexter or take him to the vet for urgent lifesaving treatment.
After starving Dexter Ross gave the pedigree dog a large amount of food which resulted in the animal’s sudden death from a condition called re-feeding syndrome.
After Dexter died, Ross buried his emaciated body in the back garden of his home in Tranent in East Lothian.
Dean Ross starved his two dogs bur only Roxy (main image) survived. The SSPCA were forced to dig up the emaciated body of the other dog, Dexter, after Ross buried it in his back garden
Depute fiscal Graham Fraser told the court the Scottish SPCA received a report concerning Dexter in February 2013. After an excavation order was obtained, the animal’s remains were dug up from Ross’s back garden.
Veterinary examination found the dog was less than half the weight he should have been, with a body score of one over nine
Ross, now a plumbing engineer, told the authorities he was no longer able to “afford the necessary veterinary treatment”.
Mr Fraser added: ““There was a combination of the lack of veterinary care and inadequate diet, and the vet’s attention should have been sought.”
He said Dexter had died from re-feeding syndrome, which can result in the sudden death of starved animals who are suddenly provided with food.
He added: “His [the pathologist] opinion is that the dog’s very poor condition indicated that the welfare had been ‘significantly compromised’.”
The court heard it would have taken “several months” for Dexter to become so ill, and an animal pathologist report stated the dog’s weight loss and eventual death was due to “long-term lack of food”.
The pathologist’s report added any failure to provide enough nourishment to an animal over several months would have “led to widespread organ failure”.
Ross pleaded guilty to failing to provide veterinary attention and a wholesome diet for Dexter and another Weimaraner named Roxy.
Sentencing Ross, Sheriff Peter Braid described his treatment of Dexter as “sickening in the extreme”.
Inspector Emma Phillips, of the Scottish SPCA, welcomed the life ban for Ross.
Surviving dog Roxy after being nursed back to health
Inspector Phillips said: “We were alerted when Ross’s female Weimaraner named Roxy was handed into another animal charity and they took her to a vets due to her poor body condition. Roxy was emaciated and weighed just 18kgs, which is half the weight she should have been.
“She had no muscle mass and all her bones were clearly visible.
“A blood test revealed no underlying health issues, confirming her weight loss had been caused by a lack of food. We were advised a second dog named Dexter had recently died at Ross’ property and was buried in the back garden.
“We arranged for Dexter’s body to be exhumed so a post mortem could be carried out. Dexter was severely emaciated and had protein-energy malnutrition, likely caused by a lack of food.
“We are pleased Ross has received a lifetime ban on owning animals following our investigation.
“While tragically it was too late for Dexter, Roxy made a full recovery in our care and has since found a loving new home where she is doing well.”
Sentencing | 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.. Lifetime ban on owning animals.
CONVICTED (2012) | Lauren McMeechan, born c. 1988, of High Street, Linlithgow EH48 7EJ – left her pet dogs to starve almost to death
Vile Lauren McMeechan was not banned from keeping animals and walked free from court without so much as a fine
Callous Lauren McMeechan left the two dogs – a male Irish setter and a female black Labrador – in the worst state of starvation a vet had ever seen.
McMeechan pleaded guilty to starving and neglecting the dogs.
The court heard that when investigators called at her home in May 2010, they found one-year-old setter Reilly and five-year-old Lab Halle with their ribs, spine and hip bones sticking through their fur.
McMeechan’s dogs Reilly and Halle recovered and were rehomed together
McMeechan admitted causing the pair unnecessary suffering by failing to provide proper nourishment between April 1 and May 27, 2010.
But she told the court she failed to care for them because she was suffering from depression.
Iain Smith, defending, asked for no ban to be imposed on her keeping animals. He said: “In a good mental health state she would be a fit person to look after animals, although she has no plans to do so at present.”
Sheriff Donald Muirhead admonished McMeechan but advised her to think twice about keeping pets in the future.
He said: “If you feel yourself getting down or in a low mood and you have animals, give them away because you obviously can’t look after them in that state.”
2016 photo of McMeechan
SSPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “We are shocked no ban on keeping animals has been imposed by the court.
“The vet who examined both dogs said it was one of the worst cases of starvation he had ever seen and we believe that a life ban would have been entirely appropriate in this instance.
“Not only is it important in cases such as this, where we believe the offender has demonstrated they are unfit to care for animals, it also sends out an important message – that owning an animal is a privilege and not a right.
“Thankfully, both dogs were taken into our care and, after prolonged rehabilitation, have found a loving home together.”
