Woman allowed to keep dog after kicking it in front of neighbours

An Angus woman has been allowed to keep her dog despite kicking it during a neighbour dispute.

Kara Longmuir from Brechin hit her 12-year-old pet while police were in attendance on August 16 last year.

The 29-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted causing a breach of the peace and hitting Bobby in Nursery Lane.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said there was a matter involving the same pet from 2014 and moved for a ban on Longmuir keeping dogs, plus a deprivation order that would have removed the animal from her custody.

He said: “Police had attended in relation to difficulties between the accused and her neighbours.

“The accused had been seen under the influence of alcohol and was simply warned. “She had the dog with her. “The police officers had gone and the accused walked past the neighbours and began shouting and swearing at their house.

“She was seen kicking the dog, yanking the chain and kicking it once more.”

Defence agent Billy Rennie said his client had been dealing with issues around alcohol.

He said: “She’d had the dog since birth and the dog’s mother.

“Of note is that the Scottish SPCA visited her after being referred by the police and they examined the dog, the home and facilities and they were entirely satisfied with her keeping the animal.

“The dog’s 12 – she loves it dearly and it’s an important factor in her life.”

Mr Rennie added: “This application for her not to have this dog is a year after the incident and I’d say it’s significant that the Scottish SPCA have not been back.”

Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown fined Longmuir £200 and refused the Crown’s motion, citing the animal charity has no immediate concerns.