Girvan man banned from owning animals for 10 years over neglect

Michael Wheaton, of Girvan, appeared at Ayrshire Sheriff Court after failing to provide adequate care for his dogs, including a collie-type named Indie and a five-year-old Belgian Malinois named Bear.

He was found guilty of failing to provide food and veterinary treatment for the animals and keeping them in a faeces- and urine-soiled property without access to water or proper exercise.

A Scottish SPCA inspector said: "Upon entering the residence, it was immediately clear the property was unsuitable for any animal to be living in.

"There was dog urine and faeces in every room of the house.

"There were used sanitary products and various other hazardous items all over the floor and the front door was being held closed with a cardboard box."

The inspector said the dogs had no access to water or outdoor toileting, as the rear garden was blocked by piles of rubbish stacked as high as the inspector's head.

Wheaton was sentenced to a 10-year ban on owning or keeping animals and given a Community Payback Order of 90 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months.

The Scottish SPCA visited Wheaton's home in May 2024 after receiving a report through its Animal Helpline.

The inspector said: "It was heartbreaking to see the dogs had been living in such filth."

The inspector said she was "shocked" at their size.

"They were massively overweight.

"Indie appeared to be uncomfortable when walking, as if she was in discomfort and pain."

It was decided it was in the best interests of the animals to remove them from the property immediately.

All three dogs were taken to a nearby vet, who found Indie and Bear to be severely obese, each at least 10kg overweight and given a body condition score of 9 out of 9. A healthy score is typically 4 or 5.

Because of their weight, the dogs suffered from significant mobility issues, were stiff when walking, and showed signs of discomfort.

Indie was found to be lame, while Bear had lost substantial muscle mass in his back legs, indicating he had not been exercised for a long period.

The Scottish SPCA said both dogs had likely endured years of neglect.

A veterinarian said Indie also needed treatment for a painful gum condition that had been left untreated for at least six months.

The vet said: "Clinical signs such as difficulty eating, dropping food out of their mouth, reluctance to eat straight away or excessive drooling can all be apparent to an attentive owner."

After reviewing photographs of the property, the vet added: "An owner is obliged to provide for their animal's physical and mental wellbeing.

"In this environment, these animals were at risk of injury from inappropriate access to dangerous items such as food, which could harbour mould and plastic."

The Scottish SPCA said it was satisfied with the outcome of the case.

The inspector said: "We are pleased with the Sheriff's decision and hope this sends a clear message across Scotland that animal neglect will not be tolerated.

"Anyone who decides to get a dog must make sure they can meet the animal's needs throughout its entire life."