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).

Source: Edinburgh Evening News (removed)