Dog’s teeth filed down to nerve ends

AN animal foster carer has shared the heartbreaking story of a young dog bought from a Tayside puppy farm who had to be put down due to the horrific injuries he had suffered.

Sabre, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois, was purchased from the site in Glenalmond, Perthshire, last July.

The unsuspecting buyers later learned every tooth in his mouth had been filed down, causing raw nerve endings to turn black, leaving him in pain.

Unable to control Sabre, who suffered from post traumatic stress problems, the couple contacted Diane Grant, a Belgian Malinois foster carer who tried to rehabilitate him.

Diane is now highlighting Sabre’s case and questioning why it took the Scottish SPCA so long to act on information relating to the puppy farm.

The procurator fiscal confirmed a 27-year-old man was being investigated in relation to human trafficking and animal welfare abuses.

Diane contacted the Scottish SPCA on July 27 last year alerting the charity to Sabre’s plight.

Sabre was traced to the owner of the Glenalmond puppy farm and the site had been reported multiple times over the previous year.

But it would be three months before inspectors raided the puppy farm.

“(On August 8) they told me they wouldn’t be taking it any further as there wasn’t enough evidence,” said Diane.

Sabre had to undergo a half-mouth extraction but it was not enough to save his life.

Diane said: “Tragically, on September 16, due to the trauma this poor boy had been subjected to in his two-year life span – myself and the owner of the rescue had to have Sabre put to sleep.”

The Scottish SPCA has come under heavy criticism for its handling of the puppy farm case with neighbours and documents revealing it was aware of it for 18 months.

The farm was eventually raided in late October when more than 60 animals were rescued.

The Scottish SPCA said it would not comment on an ongoing criminal investigation.

RESIDENTS have expressed their shock after a teenage girl was assaulted during an attempted robbery.

Police are trying to trace a man who attacked the 14-year-old from behind in the Ferry Road area of Monifieth at around 9pm on Wednesday.

The man, who was said to be tall and wearing a black hooded jacket, fled towards the central area of Monifieth, leaving the girl with what police described as minor injuries.

People living in the area said officers were conducting door-todoor inquiries on Friday.

Residents who have lived in the community for a number of years said they were shocked and saddened by the incident.