East Ayrshire man jailed for six months after dog abandoned in cage had to be put down

A man whose dog had to be put down after he abandoned it inside a cage for several days with "food out of reach and no water" has been jailed for six months.

The Scottish SPCA found the animal lying in the container on a blanket soaked in urine and covered in faeces.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said the dog was "so weak he couldn't even lift his head" and had to be immediately euthanised due to "extreme suffering".

Owner Daryl Torrance, 34, of Mauchline in East Ayrshire, has also been banned from owning or keeping pets for 10 years after pleading guilty to a charge of animal neglect.

Torrance was sentenced at Ayrshire Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

The incident happened in October 2022.

The court heard how the Scottish SPCA were alerted amid concerns a dog had been left for long periods of time and was believed to be locked in the back room of a flat.

COPFS said the animal welfare officers forced entry to the empty property and were met with an "overpowering stench of ammonia in the stairwell".

The male brindle and white crossbreed was found in a bedroom in an "emaciated and collapsed state".

COPFS said there was a bowl of untouched dog food at the other corner of the cage "that he would have been unable to reach and no water".

After being examined by a vet, it was decided euthanasia was the only option due to the dog's poor physical condition.

A microchip revealed Torrance was the registered owner.

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Alistair Duncan, assistant procurator fiscal for north Strathclyde, said: "This was an appalling example of animal cruelty.

"This poor dog was left abandoned for a significant period and suffered the terrible consequences of Daryl Torrance's shocking neglect.

"The law protects animals from harm and COPFS will continue to work robustly to ensure anyone who breaks the law faces prosecutorial action."