CONVICTED (2023) | Colleen Sweeney, born 14 April 1991, of Middleward Street, Faifley, Clydebank G81 4JZ – left her dog to suffer a litany of untreated ailments for a year.
Colleen Sweeney blamed financial difficulty for her severe neglect of loyal pet Star
Sweeney admitted cruelty to the dog, believed to be a Lhaso Apso type named Star, by failing to provide her with veterinary treatment for a chronic eye condition and subsequent eye and skin infections between June 22, 2021 and June 22, 2022.
Mother-of-one Sweeney also failed to provide adequate grooming and diet to the point the dog’s coat became severely matted and emaciated causing suffering, pain and discomfort.
Star (pictured in healthier times) was euthanised on welfare grounds after being cruelly neglected by Colleen Sweeney
Tragically Star’s condition had deteriorated to the point where she had to be put to sleep on humane grounds.
Sweeney’s solicitor said his client was “very much ashamed of herself for not taking proper care of the dog and causing it pain and suffering. The situation is she had the dog for seven years and cared for it well up until the latter part of its life.
“She lost her job and there was a mix-up with her benefits. She was struggling financially at the time and was having to borrow money in order to get by. She was then unable to financially afford to keep the dog.
“She does accept that she should have made more effort to ensure the dog was properly cared for and she is not trying to minimise that.
“She had made attempts of treating the eye infection. Firstly by dealing with the vet, then subsequently by purchasing eye drops over the internet, but she accepts that it wasn’t sufficient.
“She tells me she tried to groom the dog herself. She appears as a first-time offender and I don’t think she will be back at these courts.
“She was upset the dog had to be destroyed as she was hoping it would recover and be rehomed.”
Sheriff William Gallacher said: “It is an unusual case. I have read the [social work] report. It is encouraging and you simply got yourself in a position that drifted from your control.
“I understand there was no malice on your part in relation to what has happened to this dog. You shouldn’t keep a dog at all if you can’t afford it.”
Sentencing | fined £250. Banned from keeping dogs for two years (expires February 2025).
CONVICTED (2022) | Chanel McGaharon, born 12 March 2000, and Robert ‘Rab’ McLeish, born 17 October 1995, of Williamsburgh Court, Paisley PA1 1QJ but with links to Dumbarton – left a puppy with bleeding scabs and gaping wound for several weeks.
McGaharon and McLeish, who are parents, pleaded guilty to failing to seek veterinary treatment and pain relief for an eight-month-old Akita called Marlie. The pup had been scratching so furiously that she was left with wounds on the back of her legs and patches of missing fur.
Officers from the Scottish SPCA (SSPCA) attended the couple’s home after receiving a report of concern for a dog’s welfare. They found Marlie lying in pain outside the property. She was showing signs of distress as she would constantly stand up, turn around in a tight circle then lie down.
The officers asked for access into the couple’s home to inspect the dog’s living conditions, but this request was denied.
Officers rushed the dog to the vet where it was estimated that she had been suffering for up to eight weeks.
Marlie’s owners were prosecuted but walked free from court with a £135 fine each. Neither was banned from owning an animal.
Speaking about the case, SSPCA inspector Isla Bell said: “On Tuesday, August 25, I attended the property of Robert McLeish and Chanel McGaharon in response to a complaint of dog neglect made to the Scottish SPCA animal helpline.
“The report stated that there was a dog lying outside the home with swollen paws and missing fur and which appeared to be very lethargic.
“On arrival, I asked to see inside the property to assess whether the dog’s health could be related to their living conditions however McLeish refused to grant access.
“I then observed a female Akita dog lying on a blanket outside. The Akita, named Marlie, appeared to be an older dog, slightly underweight and had a generally lethargic demeanour. Marlie would constantly stand up, turn around in a tight circle then lie down, as if irritated. She was also scratching constantly.
“I noticed blood on the back of the Marlie’s legs and belly and on her paws from scratching herself. These areas also had a particularly sparse coat. The skin that could be seen in areas where fur was missing or sparse was red, inflamed and covered in scabs.”
Ms Bell said she was shocked to discover that Marlie was only eight months old, as she showed no signs whatsoever of being a playful puppy which would have been expected at this age.
She added: “It was clear that Marlie’s welfare had suffered. Her chronic skin condition meant she had scratched herself to the point that she left a gaping wound on her head and wore away hair on her body, ears and legs. She also had areas of thickened skin from the constant scratching. “It is deplorable that somebody could watch their pet in this constant state of irritation and do little to ease their suffering.
“I was so concerned for Marlie’s welfare due to her condition that I removed her immediately to be examined by a vet.
“Veterinary examination confirmed that she had been caused unnecessary suffering over a period of four to eight weeks by her owner’s failure to seek veterinary attention for her skin.
“We are disappointed that neither McLeish nor McGaharon received a ban.
“We hope they will seriously reconsider their ability to care for animals in the future.
“After being taken into our care, the condition of the Marlie’s skin improved drastically and her demeanour was a lot happier. She has now been rehomed to a loving family where she is treated to lots of cuddles and beach walks.”
In March 2018 Robert McLeish, then of Dumbarton and with previous convictions, was jailed for 27 months and placed under supervision for a further nine months after being caught in a garden with a large kitchen knife.
McLeish’s lawyer told the court that his client “had had his difficulties in life and a lack of stability” adding that he had moved to Dumbarton from Paisley “to get away from bad influences”.
CONVICTED (2022) | Patricia Goffin, born 25 October 1992, of 6 Maryland Road, Bellsmyre, Dumbarton G82 3DH – repeatedly kicked a dog on the body.
Goffin also admitted grabbing hold of a child and repeatedly hitting her partner. The attacks took place at a flat in Cornock Street, Clydebank, on May 30, 2022.
The mother-of-five admitted causing a dog unnecessary suffering by repeatedly kicking him as well as assault charges relating to the partner and child while shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence.
The dog’s condition has not been reported.
Following Goffin’s guilty plea, sentencing had been deferred until Tuesday, October 11 to allow social workers time to prepare a background report. But on reading the contents of that report, Sheriff William Gallacher told Goffin’s lawyer that he needed to know more about her background before passing sentence.
Goffin will return to court for sentencing at a later date.
CONVICTED (2022) | Rafal Golabek, born c. 1992, of Kirkoswald Drive, Clydebank G81 2DB – seen on CCTV battering a dog in a lift in a block of flats.
Golabek pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the unnamed white American bulldog by repeatedly punching and kicking the dog on his head and body.
The Polish national then claimed to social workers that he was play-fighting with his pet when he abused him in a lift in Garscadden View, North Drumry, and attempted to make a “black-humoured joke” that next time he wouldn’t be caught.
Fiscal depute Claire O’Hagan told Dumbarton Sheriff Court that Golabek and a friend were seen on CCTV entering the high rise flats in the evening of May 30, 2021.
Whilst waiting on the lift, the accused was seen chastising the dog before pulling the animal by his chain into the lift and then kicking him.
Golabek’s own friend attempted to stop the cruel onslaught, but the 30-year-old continued to repeatedly punch and kick the animal to his head and body.
The next day, police asked to review the CCTV footage and made enquiries into the wellbeing of the pet.
A few days later, in the early hours of the morning of June 5, Golabek was seen walking the dog, who was seized by police.
Ms O’Hagan added that during the police interview he claimed he was “play-fighting with the dog”.
Golabek appeared at court on August 9, 2022, for sentencing, and CCTV footage of the incident was played to the court.
Phil Lafferty, defending, told Sheriff John Hamilton: “I can’t pretend this is anything other than a distressing and worrying case.
“If there is any comfort in any of this, it is that the dog wasn’t injured, but that is a marginal issue.
“Nor has he presented himself to the social work department in a positive light.
“I have to address a particular point in the report where what Mr Golabek suggests he would do differently is ‘not to be caught effectively’.
“I think I can only put that down to nervous black humour.
“It not something he thought was part of the interview process.
“He thought it was a throwaway joke and was clearly lacking in insight into the situation.
“I am more concerned about him maintaining his position in the community.
“He knows that this is something he won’t ever be trusted to do again. It is a nasty offence.”
Sheriff Hamilton then asked: “Why did he have a dog?
“It seems that he is maintaining the narrative [of someone] who thinks having a dog like that would make him more masculine.
“What he seems to fail to understand is that hitting dogs is not appropriate.
“A good dog owner is someone who knows the way to train a dog is not hitting them.”
Addressing Golabek, Sheriff Hamilton said: “I am not overly convinced you understand the gravity of this offence.”
Sentencing | community payback owner with 220 hours of unpaid work and 12 months of social work supervision. Banned from keeping any animals for 18 months (expires February 2024).
#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).
CONVICTED (2021) | bloodsports maniac and dog-fighting kingpin* Anthony Holloway, born 1 October 1992, of 17 Cumbrae Crescent South, Dumbarton G82 5AW – forced his dogs to fight and took selfies with the corpses of dead animals; exposed as major player in organised dog-fights.
Evil thug Anthony Holloway pictured outside court
Anthony Holloway walked free from court with a community payback order and a four-year-ban on keeping dogs despite being convicted of a litany of sadistic animal cruelty.
He was caught in October 2019 after officers from the Scottish SPCA’s Special Investigation Unit stopped him and an associate at Cairnryan ferry port after a badger baiting trip.
The pair had three Patterdale terriers – Honey, Dodger and Floss, and a Lakeland terrier-type dog called Red with them.
All dogs were found with scars and one had fresh wounds consistent with animal fighting. The dogs were seized by the Scottish SPCA.
Items of clothing, some stained with blood, were removed from the scene and were later identified as belonging to Holloway from images gathered as evidence.
A full veterinary examination of the dogs showed scarring around the face, head and jaw. The vet determined that all of the dogs had injuries consistent with being used repeatedly to fight animals, predominantly badgers.
The court saw a series of film and stills taken from Holloway’s phone that showed him digging out badger setts and holding up a dead fox, which had its jaw ripped off. One still showed a young boy in glasses, grinning as he held a large dead fox.
The court heard Holloway had fabricated an artificial badger sett to allow pups to practise killing animals.
The court also heard that Holloway was strongly suspected of being involved in dog fighting, after his mobile phone showed he had texted an associate about a fight. It is believed he took his own dogs to Ireland to take part in fights organised by criminal gangs.
One video found on Holloway’s phone showed two lurcher dogs chasing a fox and ripping it to pieces.
Holloway claimed his regular job is pest control, sometimes killing foxes and badgers with his specially-trained dogs. But Joe Stewart, prosecuting, said that was nonsense, as killing animals with dogs is illegal in Scotland.
Mr Stewart said: “There were messages sent to an associate that refer to Holloway fighting dogs with another domestic dog. It is certainly the Crown’s position that the offences were not connected with vermin control.
“I cannot accept that this is legal work. There is no legal way to use dogs to kill other animals. You require a licence to legally kill badgers and this must be done humanely and with a firerarm. The videos and photographs make it crystal clear that the killing of these animals was gratuitous and it was done for fun.
“There are pictures of the accused and his friends digging out badgers and foxes and the purpose was not pest control. It was a blood sport.
“That could be the only motivation for fighting two domestic dogs.”
Holloway was found guilty of training his dogs for the purpose of animal fighting and also convicted of supplying videos of animal fighting.
A Scottish SPCA special investigations unit inspector said: “While we view every prosecution as a success, we are disappointed with the sentence Holloway received.
“He showed a complete lack of regard for their welfare. Badgers can be lethal and we have had to put animals to sleep in the past due to the injuries they sustained during a fight with a badger.
“It’s difficult to say how many animals suffered at the hands of Holloway. It won’t just be the wild animals involved in fighting but his own dogs too. He showed a complete lack of regard for their welfare.
“We had asked for Holloway to receive a lifetime disqualification on owning or keeping dogs so we are frustrated with the four-year ban. This does not reflect the level of cruelty Holloway allowed to be inflicted on wildlife and his own dogs.
“We were hopeful that the overhaul of animal welfare legislation, where maximum sentencing was increased, would be utilised by the court and act as a deterrent for anyone else considering undertaking such abhorrent crimes.”
Prior to sentence, Sheriff Gallacher had warned Holloway he could face jail. He told him: “What we have seen is barbarity. It’s the sport of doing it, the pleasure of seeing an animal attacking another animal.
“Holding a dead fox in your hand is nothing to do with managing vermin – it’s sport.”
Despite this, the sheriff opted against a lifetime ban after defence lawyer Judith Reid said that would have a serious effect on Holloway’s income. Holloway appeared to expect a jail sentence and had brought a large black bag to court.
Sentencing: 270-hour community payback order. Banned from owning dogs for just four years (expires June 2025).
Scottish newspaper the Daily Record exposed Holloway as a key player in the twisted world of dog-fighting.
A source told a Record reporter that Holloway trained his fighting dogs at his “Roc Red” stable to kill, pitting them against badgers and foxes to prepare.
They said: “People like Holloway cannot stop themselves from showing off, which often involves trophy photos of their dogs ripping foxes and badgers apart. But he has gone further than most and has faced off his animals against other dogs at ultra-secret fight meets in the UK and Ireland.
“He has been over to Ireland many times and there is a far more established dog fighting community over there. He is also connected to some of the most notorious dog fighters in England.
“They all have stable names and the communications are quite sophisticated, mostly on secure or encrypted sites like WhatsApp and Telegram. It is normal for match reports to be written up, just like reports from boxing matches, only the loser often ends up dead.”
The source says the tight-knit dog fighting community is paranoid about getting caught.
They added: “This leaked photograph and match report will be a major concern to anyone involved in dog fighting in Scotland and the UK.”
The Record investigation revealed that Holloway used a full complement of fighting dog training methods. These include canine treadmills to increase stamina and “break sticks” to prise open dogs’ mouths if they are locked into a rival’s neck.
One leaked image showed Holloway posing at his ramshackle compound with a American pit bull called Roc Red’s Widow. The photo was marked 2XW – meaning the dog had won two fights previously.
The dog also has a blue anaesthetic liquid on her face after suffering serious facial cuts in a fight. The anaesthetics are shared among the fighting circle, with the trainers carrying out their own crude attempts at patching up dogs after fights. Taking animals with fighting injuries to vets could arouse suspicion.
The Record wrote that some of Holloway’s dogs had been forced to take part in multiple bloody fights for the pleasure of other depraved brutes in Scotland and elsewhere.
Holloway’s compound in Dumbarton.
The Record obtained images taken from inside the grim lair operated by Holloway and his accomplices, where innocent dogs have been reared from pups and trained to rip others apart.
Reporters also observed him inside the compound during October 2022 tending to dogs despite being banned by a Scottish court for a horrendous series of animal cruelty offences.
Dogs are kept in steel cages in the compound, which is only accessible via a locked door. According to the “match report” obtained by the Record, Holloway’s dog, Roc Red’s Gypsy, won a battle against a 36lb buckskin bull terrier.
The rival was bred by a stable called Still Game after the Scottish comedy show. The report tells how Gypsy ripped the throat of his rival, Still Game’s Chloe, and grips her brutally in his teeth for five minutes before the rival trainer – also believed to be Scottish – throws the towel in.
The report states: “The damage to Chloe’s chest is clear and with his bitch fading fast, Chloe’s handler rightly picks up, giving Roc Red and Gypsy a well deserved win in 27 mins.”
It is not known if Chloe survived.
A spokesperson for the Scottish SPCA, which brought the badger baiting case against Holloway after a rigorous investigation, said he is known to be one of the most persistent menaces to animals in Scotland.
The spokesperson said: “Anthony Holloway has previously been involved with animal fighting, and last year was handed a four-year ban on owning or keeping dogs as well as a 270-hour community payback order. Our investigation left us with no doubt that Holloway is a significant member of organised dog fighting and badger baiting in Scotland and throughout the UK.
“We would welcome any information on any persons in Scotland known to be involved in animal fighting. All calls made to our animal helpline on 03000 999 999 are confidential.”
The Daily Record spotted Holloway inside the compound and we later tried to speak to him at his home in Dumbarton about his activities. There was no response when the Record tried to speak to him.
On 1 November 2022 the Daily Record published a follow-up article on Holloway, which revealed that he is also a member of an animal killing ring that includes some of the most vicious abusers in the UK.
Sadistic Holloway shared grisly photos and videos of animal mutilation with Rhys Davies, a former gamekeeper at the Millden Estate in Angus. Davies is currently serving an eight-month jail sentence for badger baiting – the longest in Scottish legal history.
Rhys Davies
Holloway and Davies exchanged messages relating to badger baiting and the covert world of dog fighting.
Both men were given bans on keeping animals after major investigations by the SSPCA’s Special Investigations Unit.
One senior inspector for the unit said: “During our investigations we were able to establish that Anthony Holloway and Rhys Davies were prolific in their animal fighting activities throughout the UK. In August this year, Davies was sentenced to eight months in prison and a 15-year ban on owning or keeping animals.
“Holloway has previously been involved with animal fighting, and last year was handed a four-year ban on owning or keeping dogs as well as a 270 hour community payback order.
“Our investigation left us with no doubt that Holloway is a significant member of organised dog fighting and badger baiting in Scotland and throughout the UK. These cases involved some of the most serious cruelty our special investigations unit has ever dealt with.”
During the court proceedings against Rhys Davies, a detailed narrative was prepared for the court by the SSPCA.
The narrative states: “Davies is clearly in communication with an individual who is well practised in fighting his dogs with badgers. The reporting officer has identified this individual as Anthony Holloway from photographs that he sent of himself to Davies.
“He has sent him two clear videos of his dogs pulling badgers from their setts. They are exchanging information regarding dog breeds and talking about what dogs are best for killing what animals, be it badger or fox. There are other, numerous conversations with this individual.”
Sentencing Davies in August 2022, Sheriff Derek Reekie told him: “It is deeply disturbing, the horrific, cruel and senseless nature of the crime, as well as the cruelty to your own dogs. Your text messages demonstrate your sickening enjoyment in what you were doing.”
Officers also discovered damning conversations with a man named as “T” – another sadist, Liam Taylor from Macduff, Aberdeenshire, who was convicted of similar offences in November 2021.
CONVICTED (2021) | John-Paul Griffin, born c. 1982, of Garscadden View, North Drumry, Clydebank G81 2DQ – trained his dog to become so aggressive he attacked a child and was euthanised
American bulldog Kaiser was trained by John-Paul Griffin to fight and consequently lost his life
John-Paul Griffin’s dog, an American bulldog named Kaiser, was euthanised after attacking a young pug named Chase that was being walked by two children.
Griffin pleaded guilty to an allegation of being in charge of the dog where it was dangerously out of control.
The court heard that Kaiser seized the pug, bit him on the body to his injury and repeatedly failed to desist when commanded to do so. Kaiser then bit one of the children on his finger.
The dog was taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA prior to the court case and later put down following an assessment.
John Paul Griffin trained his dog to be aggressive and the dog paid the price with his life
The court was also told that the charity’s assessment had found the animal’s age and the difficulty in rehoming him were central issues in their decision to have him put to sleep.
Sheriff John Hamilton noted the dog had been trained “for some sort of fighting”.
He said: “Kaiser is no longer with us. It seems a good thing that Kaiser is dead.”
Chase the pug was badly injured in the attack but is believed to have survived.
CONVICTED (2020) | Richard John Kelly, born 3 July 1990, of 29 Merkins Avenue, Bellsmyre, Dumbarton G82 3EA – kept two dogs and three cats in filthy conditions and was violent towards at least one dog.
Police and inspectors from the Scottish SPCA attended Kelly’s home after receiving reports that he had kicked his pet dog.
Alasdair Millar, prosecuting, said: “On entering, they found living conditions to be appalling. They were immediately hit by an overwhelming smell of faeces and urine.”
The prosecutor said each room was dirty and unkempt. There was faeces on the floor, ripped carpet and “tens of dozens of flies”.
Kelly was caught after he ignored a court order barring him from going to see his ex. That non-harassment order (NHO) had been put in place for three years in December 2019 after Kelly emailed the woman threatening to slit her throat.
But on September 13, 2020, the woman was at home when Kelly turned up for an offer of a kitten from a cat’s new litter. He was allowed inside the home and stayed the night, playing computer games.
But both Kelly and his ex spent the following day drinking, and at 6.15pm, they got into a verbal argument.
Mr Millar told the court that Kelly had left the property. He was holding on the lead of one of his dogs when he ran off.
A witness heard the dog yelping and saw Kelly in the yard with the dog cowering in the grass. Kelly then proceeded to kick the dog.
When the witness shouted for Kelly to stop, he replied: “F*** sake, I’ve only hit him once.”
Kelly was traced by police the next day and the SSPCA checked on the welfare of the animals.
Sheriff William Gallacher said he was “anxious” about whether Kelly could comply with a community payback order (CPO).
He said: “These are very serious matters. That [non-harassment] order remains in place. You must have nothing else to do with her.
“Your treatment in relation to animals is horrifying. To hit any animal because you have had too much to drink will not do.”
The sheriff added: “If you break any of these orders, you will end up in custody for a long time.”
Kelly’s progress will be reviewed on February 3, 2021.
Scottish SPCA chief inspector Laura McIntyre told the Reporter: “We can confirm that we assisted Police Scotland to ensure the welfare of the animals involved.
“They are now at one of our rescue and rehoming centres receiving the care they need.”
Sentencing | 150 hours of unpaid work within 12 months. Two-year social work supervision order. Banned from owning any animal for three years (expired November 2023).
CONVICTED (2020) | Perparim Tahiraj, born 21/09/1970, of 36 Williamson Drive, Helensburgh G84 7LH – failed to get veterinary treatment for his five horses and left them to fly-graze
Albanian Perparim Tahiraj is banned from keeping equines for five years after starving and neglecting five horses and leaving them to fly-graze
Perparim Tahiraj, who is originally from Albania, told Scottish SPCA inspectors he would not feed or care for horses Al, Africa, Cinderella, Song, and Tia, but refused to sign them over
Tahiraj, who has previously been convicted of domestic violence let the horses roam on land he did not have permission to use. The muddy ground in Helensburgh was unsuitable for grazing, with no shelter from the elements, and the horses became emaciated.
For a year the horses were left to try to fend for themselves on land which was littered with broken fencing and poisonous rhododendron bushes.
Shockingly, on Christmas Eve 2018, Tahiraj announced to inspectors from the Scottish SPCA that he would not feed or care for his horses. But he also refused to hand them over into their care.
Tahiraj was found guilty under Section 24 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 for failing to provide a suitable environment, adequate diet and protection from suffering, injury and disease.
He was banned from keeping horses for five years.
Further sentencing was deferred for six months, meaning if he stays out of trouble for that period of time, he will likely face no further punishment.
Following the sheriff’s verdict, it was disclosed that Tahiraj, who is unemployed, is already using some of his benefits to pay back outstanding fines.
He also claimed he was unable to work due to various alleged health complications, including depression, anxiety, and arthritis, which meant he would be unable to complete a community payback order of unpaid work.
Scottish SPCA inspector Gillian Dick said: “We are pleased Tahiraj has been handed a ban for this level of neglect.
“Tahiraj is well known to the Scottish SPCA, we have had countless dealings with him and removed animals from his care a number of times.
“We tried on several occasions to provide him with guidance and advice on how to care for his animals.
“Tahiraj did not have permission to graze his horses on the land and had effectively been fly grazing within the field and surrounding grass area since January 2018.
“On 24 December 2018 he stated he would no longer attend to his horses or provide feed for them.
“We then asked him to sign the horses over in to our care, which he refused to do. “When we attended horses we discovered them all to be underweight and in poor body condition.
“Four of the five horses were suffering from skin infections, which needed veterinary treatment.
“The field offered inadequate grazing for equine animals and conditions were muddy, with little appropriate shelter from adverse weather conditions.
“The horses were exposed to poisonous rhododendron bushes and discarded fencing material.
“In one corner of the field the fence was broken and taped up, which was not suitable to contain the horses from the nearby busy road. We welcome this sentence. Tahiraj was not capable of meeting the most basic of needs for the horses in his care.
“We hope this sentence makes Tahiraj consider his ability to look after any animal in the future.”
A spokesperson for an informal group of concerned residents, the ‘Friends of Blairvadach Horses’ said the issue of horses ‘fly grazing’ on the council-owned Blairvadach site dated back to 2015, but that the Friends stepped up their own efforts to look after the animals, due to their poor condition, in September 2018.
The spokesperson said: “It was at this time the Friends stepped up their support for the horses and ponies, spending many hundreds of pounds on feed, hay, fruit and veg, and delivering this to Blairvadach every two days or so throughout October-December 2018.
“The Friends sought advice and support from Horse Rescue Scotland (HRS), World Horse Welfare and others. HRS’s guidance and legal knowledge in particular was invaluable, leading to several approaches to the authorities involved.
“Thankfully the ‘Blairvadach Five’ were finally removed by the Scottish SPCA on December 28, 2018.
“Some of the ‘Friends’ had known the animals for many years and had grown very fond of them.
“For anyone who cared about these horses and ponies it was heart-breaking over many months watching their condition deteriorate, more and more of their ribs showing, and knowing they had no shelter and often nothing to eat but plants like rhododendrons, ragwort, oak leaves, bracken and yew, that are poisonous for horses and can lead to liver and kidney failure and, at worst, a painful death.”
Peter McDonald, the chairman of Horse Rescue Scotland, said: “Our role was to provide help and guidance to the Friends on what they could do, and most importantly what they must not do.
“A window of opportunity opened up in the autumn of 2018 after we became aware that Mr Tahiraj had not been seen at the site for some weeks, because there is a specific offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act of 2006 that refers to the abandonment of animals.
“That provided a legal authority to act which had not been there before.”
Mr McDonald said new legislation is currently going through the Scottish Parliament which will increase the powers available to the authorities to punish people convicted of animal neglect offences, and make it easier to take action against suspected offenders.
Sentencing: banned from keeping any equine animals for a period of five years (expires February 2025).
CONVICTED (2017) | Jonathan McGurk, born c. 1989, of Pappert, Alexandria, G83 9LE – launched a brutal attack on a German Shepherd puppy
The court heard how McGurk, who works as a freelance photographer, lifted the 15-week-old puppy, Charlotte, above his head and threw her to the ground. The dog suffered multiple injuries in the attack
Puppy Charlotte pictured a short time before being subjected to a violent attack at the hands of Jonathan McGurk
Commenting on the investigation and court case, a Scottish SPCA inspector said: “This case was particularly harrowing. Throwing a puppy to the ground is a cruel and violent act.
Jonathan McGurk
“Charlotte, the 15 week old German shepherd puppy, suffered a severe chest trauma, fractured ribs and a broken leg that she required extensive treatment for.
“McGurk has undoubtedly caused Charlotte extreme pain and unnecessary suffering and whilst we’re disappointed the disqualification isn’t longer we do welcome the fact that he has been dealt with by the court. We hope he will give serious consideration about his suitability to care for other animals in the future.”
Sentencing: £600 fine; five-year disqualification order for owning and keeping dogs (expired February 2022).
