CONVICTED (2015) | Sammii Little, born 08/02/1993, of Leuchars Drive, Elgin IV30 4AU – starved a lurcher-collie to death

Little kept crossbreed Hamish in such pitiful condition that his body was found among piles of droppings after he had eaten poisonous painkillers.

A worker from the Scottish SPCA went to Little’s then home and found Hamish’s remains “in a particularly emaciated condition, with faeces lying around the body. No food or water was available for the dog, and dry bowls were found in the kitchen area”.

The court heard empty and chewed ibuprofen packets were also found in the kitchen.

When the animal’s remains were sent for post mortem the vet found rigor mortis had disappeared and decomposition was beginning to set in.

The cause of death was confirmed as starvation combined with ibuprofen toxicity.

Analysis showed Hamish had suffered severe muscle loss in his limbs and trunk and his eyes were milky white in colour and “completely sunken in”.

The vet found no dental abnormalities to explain why he might have stopped eating, and said ulcerations in the dog’s stomach were consistent with him having consumed ibuprofen.

Little admitted the charges to police when she was questioned in April 2014.

In court, her solicitor Stephen Carty said she and her former partner had looked after the dog together until they split up.

Mr Carty said: “Her family situation at the time was very difficult, but she accepts she did not care for the animal.

“She did make efforts to rectify the situation by calling her support worker but that was all rather late in the day.”

Sentence: 100 hours of community service. Banned from owning any animal for 10 years (expires February 2025).

Press and Journal