A woman who fostered 12 animals in a filthy house covered in faeces has been banned from keeping pets for three years.
Jaqueline Fraser Wade admitted to keeping five dogs and seven cats in the grim conditions at her home in Kilbirnie in North Ayrshire for three years. The 45-year-old was sentenced at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday, June 5.
The court heard how the shocking conditions came to light after a nearby resident complained to the SSPCA about a strong smell of urine coming from Wade's property. They also reported a significant amount of dog faeces spread across her garden.
On arrival, officers from the animal welfare charity were hit with a stench of ammonia when attempting to try Wade's letterbox.
Scottish SPCA inspector, Inspector Bell, said, “We attended the property on June 28, 2022, following a complaint to our animal helpline that there was a strong smell of urine coming from the property and a large amount of dog faeces in the garden. No one was at home but dogs could be heard barking inside, and there was a noticeable stench of ammonia when a calling card was put through the letter box.
“Jaqueline Fraser Wade called our animal helpline in response to the calling card and we arranged to meet her at the property the following day. When we arrived, Wade was in the garden with four of the dogs and one of the dogs was inside the house barking. The garden was very messy, overgrown and covered in dog faeces."
Officers moved into Wade's home, where they found a filthy kitchen piled high with clothing, food, dirty dishes and rubbish. Her pathway from the kitchen to the hallway was congested with clothing and rubbish and the flooring was caked in thick dirt, grime and faeces.
Shocking pictures show the full extent of the foul conditions, with faeces and dirt spread across the bathroom floor and around the toilet. Describing the squalor home, Inspector Bell said the smell of ammonia was so strong it started to sting his officers' eyes.
He continued: “The hallway and living room were the same, all flooring and surfaces thick with filth and trampled in faeces. The smell of ammonia in the property was so strong it caused our inspectors’ eyes to sting.
"The bedding on the sofa in the living room was filthy and covered in faeces and mud. The cats’ litter trays were also filthy and there were faeces, urine and mud splattered on the walls.
“Upstairs, conditions were worse. In one of the upstairs bedrooms, there were three bed frames pushed together, two of which were full and overflowing with faeces resembling a grotesquely large, neglected litter tray.
“Wade stated that this was for Daegan, a 10-year-old German pointer, who she couldn’t walk or have out in the garden due to him being too strong on the lead and barking at neighbours. Instead, the bedframe was being used as a toilet for him."
Due to the conditions and concerns for the animals, officers immediately removed all the cats and dogs. This included Daegan, as well as a seven-year-old pointer named Jenny, a six-year-old pointer named Dougal, a 10-year-old pointer named Bodach, a six-year-old pointer named Winnie, and seven cats named Jamie, Davros, Murtagh, Angus, Time Lord, Briannia and Captain Jack.
Sadly, after a vet inspection, cats Captain Jack and Davros had to be put to sleep. Captain Jack was found to have a tumour on his tail as well as an ear infection.
Davros the cat was found to have ear and dental issues. When questioned, Wade said she had been treating the tumour with a poultice of butter and sugar, as well as cleaning out Davros’ ears with Johnsons ear cleaner.
Four dogs who belonged to Pointers in Need have been returned into the care of the charity. The remaining dog, Daegan, and one cat, Time Lord, were signed into the care of the Scottish SPCA.
Wade refused to hand over the remaining four cats and a decision notice was served to transfer ownership to the SSPCA to protect their welfare.
Inspector Bell said: “This was a case of gross neglect, and the living conditions within the accused’s property were the worst that I have seen during my three years as a Scottish SPCA inspector. Anyone would have been able to see that the conditions within the property were far from suitable for any person let alone an animal to have to endure.
“Wade showed a complete lack of understanding as to how to provide a suitable environment for an animal and how to treat an animal when they have an injury or ailment. It’s great that Wade has been banned from owning or keeping animals but, given the level of neglect, we would have liked it to be for a longer period of time.
“If anyone is concerned about the welfare of an animal they can call our confidential helpline on 03000 999 999.”
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