A Dundee man has been given a three year ban on owning animals after one of his dogs was so underweight it could barely stand.
Daryl Luke Hill, 32, of Beauly Crescent, pled guilty for failing to provide adequate nutrition and veterinary care for his animals.
He was handed 180 hours of community payback on top of the ban at Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday, February 22.
Scottish SPCA officers attended his home on April 28, 2020 following a call to their helpline from a concerned member of the public.
During the visit, Hill brought out an eight-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier named Kaiser who appeared to be seriously underweight.
After being asked to place the dog on the ground in the front garden, Kaiser could barely stay on his feet as he was so emaciated.
The dog tried eating something lying in the grass and the 32-year-old then pushed him away telling him to stop doing so.
Kaiser then fell over onto his side and could not get back up without Hill’s help.
Officers then asked to see his other dog, a two-year-old German Shepherd named Chaos who was also extremely underweight.
However, he was bright and alert in comparison to Kaiser.
Hill agreed to sign Kaiser into the care of the Scottish SPCA but claimed Chaos belonged to a friend and he had been caring for him.
Officers said they were “extremely concerned for the welfare of both dogs” and immediately removed them from the home.
Scottish SPCA Inspector Robert Baldie, said: “At the examination, both dogs were extremely emaciated and shook when standing still.
“After a few seconds of standing Kaiser’s hind legs would start to sink.
“He was dehydrated and was admitted for intravenous fluid therapy to correct this.
“Chaos stood with his back arched as he had insufficient muscle to support himself normally.
“The vet could find no underlying medical cause for his weight loss. The only treatment required was a proper diet.
“Kaiser and Chaos would have taken months to reach this condition and Hill seemed to be aware that the dogs were clearly in poor condition.
“By feeding a good basic diet he could have easily alleviated the suffering caused to both dogs.
“With the correct feeding regime, there has been a marked improvement in both the dogs’ condition.
“We are pleased Hill has pled guilty and received this sentence.
“The ban will ensure no other animals will suffer like Kaiser and Chaos did, although we would have liked the ban to be for a longer period of time.”
Anyone concerned about an animal, can contact the Scottish SPCA’s confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
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