A woman who neglected two dogs so badly they had to be euthanised on welfare grounds has been banned from owning animals for three years.
Sheila Brolly, of Torran Farm in Ford, Argyll, pled guilty to causing unnecessary suffering at Dunoon Sheriff Court on June 9. The 64-year-old failed to provide veterinary care for her eight-year-old collie, Dan and nine-year-old collie, Goldie, following a Scottish SPCA probe.
She also failed to provide them with suitable living conditions including clean water or a comfortable resting place. She was handed a three-year ban on owning animals and a CPO supervision period of 18 months.
SSPCA officers raided the farm in July 2020 and found the two collies living in a metal trailer with some fencing around it to create a makeshift run. There was no bedding and not enough water to sustain two dogs during the hot temperatures that day.
Dan was found to be suffering from a persistent ear infection while Goldie had several visible tumours in her mouth and officers noted a "noticeable smell of infection" coming from the two dogs.
The skin on Dan's ear was falling away and the animal yelped when it's head was touched. Brolly admitted to using a blue spray for sheep on his ear. Goldie was found with discharge and blood dripping from her jaw and matted fur.
Inspector Sloss said: "Dan appeared to be missing part of one ear, which Brolly said was the result of a fight with another dog several years ago. On closer inspection I was horrified to see that Dan had flesh falling away from both his ears. The smell of infection was overpowering and Dan was yelping when his head was touched.
“Goldie had several large growths in her mouth, which were so big they could be seen when she was panting. Her coat was matted and there was discharge and blood dripping from her jaw. Again, the smell of infection was incredibly strong.
“Brolly stated neither dog had ever seen a vet at any point in their lives and she had treated Dan’s previous ear wound with a blue spray that she would use for the sheep."
Once both dogs were examined by a veterinary surgeon the true extent of both their conditions were revealed. Dan’s gums were inflamed and his incisor teeth were very worn.
Both dogs had been left with painful conditions for a prolonged period of time and were put to sleep to end their suffering.
Sloss said: "It’s impossible to judge how much pain this was causing him as he was already in so much pain from his ears. Both his ears were so infected that the skin in the ear canal had thickened and calcified around his right ear drum, showing the infection had been ongoing for some time.
"The infection had eaten away the flesh at the entrance to his right ear canal and both ears were full of blood and pus. The infection had been allowed to continue for so long and become so severe it was now incurable and there was no chance of Dan recovering successfully. Therefore, the decision was made to put him to sleep and end his suffering."
Goldie had several broken and worn teeth, which would have caused her considerable pain and the tumours in her mouth had grown so large that they were now encompassing some of her teeth and causing others to become loose.
Sloss said: "This, coupled with the infection would have left her in considerable pain. The tumours had been left so long they had become inoperable and it would have been impossible to restore her mouth to its normal condition so she was also euthanised on veterinary advice.
“The dogs were in such a horrendous state that even a lay person would be able to identify these conditions and how they would cause suffering and pain. This pain was severe and inflicted needlessly over a prolonged period of time.
“Had Brolly taken swift action at the onset of these conditions and provided her dogs with the appropriate veterinary attention, they need not have suffered and may even still be alive and well today.
They added: “We’re pleased Brolly has received a ban on owning animals and hope she will seriously consider her ability to look after any animal in the future.
“If anyone is concerned about an animal they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
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