#MostEvil | Thea Erica Anderson, born 13 July 2000, of 1A Duncombe View, Clydebank G81 2DG – left a starving dog to die locked in a hallway with no food or water.

Anderson’s three-year-old Mastiff cross Lexi died an agonising death from either organ failure or dehydration – with an open bag of dog food left just out of her reach.

She also failed to seek veterinary treatment for Lexi at the end of her life which would have eased the dog’s immense suffering. The offence happened between 27 June and 27 July 2020.

A post mortem showed that Lexi was a third of the weight she should have been, weighing only 11.2kg against a normal weight of over 30kg.
The examining vet concluded that Lexi would have either died of organ failure or dehydration. Either of these conditions would have caused her a slow and painful death.

Scottish SPCA inspector Gillian Dick described the case as “really upsetting” adding that the Lexi’s death was “entirely avoidable”.
Inspector Dick said: “When we first entered the address there was a strong smell of a decaying body and there were dog faeces on the floor behind the door.

“We saw Lexi at the end of the hall with a blanket partially covering her body. It was clear to us that someone had placed the blanket over Lexi.

“Lexi was completely emaciated. There was no fat covering on her body.

“She had been locked in the hallway and on inspecting the rest of the house it was cluttered and filthy. That was when I found the bag of dog food in the hallway cupboard.

“It was a big bag and only a third of the food was out of it. It’s so sad to think of Lexi being so close to this food while starving to death.”

She added: “We found items that confirmed someone had been in the property earlier in the day so Anderson was well aware of Lexi’s circumstance.

“Upon questioning, Anderson blamed Lexi’s death on a friend who was supposed to be looking after her.

“But Anderson admitted to seeing Lexi days before her death and there is absolutely no excuse for not taking her for immediate veterinary attention.

“Any responsible dog owner would have recognised Lexi’s need for urgent veterinary care.

“Lexi’s condition would have likely taken weeks or longer to reach. This resulted in Lexi’s organs failing, or dehydration, which caused her death.

“The level of pain and physical and mental suffering Lexi would have gone through at the end of her life would have been horrendous.

“Lexi was caused direct suffering because Anderson failed to provide her with food and the most basic of care.”

Sentencing: 160 hours’ community service; 18-month supervision order. Six-year ban on owning animals (expires October 2027).

Daily Record