CONVICTED (2017) | Thomas McLaughlin, born January 1963, of West Campbell Street, Paisley PA1 2QN – left a poorly golden retriever to suffer with multiple ailments including arthritis and a skin condition
Cruel Thomas McLaughlin pleaded guilty to charges of causing golden retriever Prince unnecessary suffering by omitting to take the dog to the vet between October 2016 and January 2017 for treatment.
He deliberately ignored Prince’s plight, even though the seven-year-old dog had lost most of his coat, was covered in sores, his paws were badly swollen, and he was constantly scratching patches of its hairless skin.
Fiscal depute Margaret McCallum told the court that an SSPCA inspector had attended McLaughlin’s property after an anonymous complaint about a neglected dog not receiving veterinary attention in respect of its ailments.
She said: “When admitted to the property, the inspector went into the living room where there was a golden retriever dog, normally called Prince, and he could clearly see it had a severe skin condition.
“His entire body was inflamed and red in colour. He was sparsely covered in hair. He had small spots and sores over his body.”
The court was told the room smelt “musky” and the animal could “barely stand” on his swollen paws. He limped slowly along and struggled to move his hind legs and fore legs. Prince also scratched incessantly at his skin.
A veterinary examination showed the dog weighed around 29 kilos and had a body condition scale of 1.5/5, where a scale of one is emaciated and five is obese.
McLaughlin admitted he hadn’t been to the vets for two-and-a-half years and the dog did not have any medication.
The inspector summoned another SSPCA officer to help him deal with Prince’s rescue in January 2017. Sadly he had to be euthanised due to the extent of his ailments which included osteoarthritis and dysplasia.
Sheriff James Spy told the accused he had caused “considerable distress” to the animal requiring the dog to be put down.
Sentencing:
Fined £1,000. Banned from keeping dogs for 10 years (expires August 2027).