Carer reveals plight of puppy farm dog Sabre

An animal foster carer has revealed the heartbreaking story of a dog bought from the Glenalmond puppy farm that had to be put down due to the horrific injuries it had suffered.

Sabre, a two-year-old Belgian malinois, was purchased from the notorious site last July by an unsuspecting couple.

They later learned every tooth in Sabre’s mouth had been filed down, causing raw nerve endings to turn black and leaving the dog in pain.

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

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

It comes after the procurator fiscal confirmed a 27-year-old man was being investigated in relation to human trafficking and animal welfare abuses at the Perthshire site.

Diane, who works with New Dawn Malinois Rehoming, contacted the Scottish SPCA on July 27 last year alerting the charity to Sabre’s plight.

She said her vet also voiced concerns.

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

However, the animal welfare charity insisted there was not enough evidence to continue the case.

It would be at least three months before inspectors finally raided the puppy farm – by which time Sabre was dead.

“(On August 8) they called me to tell me that the SSPCA wouldn’t be taking it any further as there wasn’t enough evidence,” said Diane.

“I couldn’t get my head around it.

“To say I was gutted was an understatement. They failed this dog on numerous occasions especially as they had been and seen him in this location (Glenalmond).

“They had all the dog’s chip details from the location – its devastating.”

Due to his teeth being filed down, Sabre had to undergo a half-mouth extraction but it was not enough to save the dog’s life.

Diane said: “Tragically, on September 16, due to the trauma this poor boy had been subject to in his short two-year life span – myself and the owner of the rescue had to make the decision to put Sabre to sleep. It was after long conversations with my vet and a behaviourist about what was best for Sabre – as like people, dogs get PTSD.”

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

The farm was eventually raided in late October last year when more than 60 animals were rescued from the rural property.

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

The aftermath of the high profile raid on a Perthshire puppy farm late last year has prompted a series of troubling questions over who knew what and when.

Now another animal lover has come forward with claims their concerns about the site at Glenalmond were not treated with the gravity they deserved.

Diane Grant says she went to the Scottish SPCA last July after she realised the young dog she was trying to rehabilitate had been the victim of terrible cruelty.

Sabre, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois, had been purchased from the site and his microchip was still registered to that address.

Sadly his post traumatic stress was so severe that he did not survive but Diane is now demanding to know why it took until October for teams from the animal welfare charity to raid the farm, seizing more than 60 creatures, and what harms could have been prevented if they had acted sooner.

Taken on its heartbreaking.

Added to the weight of similar claims from others who have shared their stories, it raises concerns about what it takes for cruelty inspectors to act and whether existing powers are fit for purpose.

The criminal investigation must be allowed to run its course but when the time is right, the Scottish SPCA’s many supporters will want answers to their questions so lessons can be learned. own,

Sabre’s case is

HEARTBREAKING STORY: Animal foster worker Diane Grant with Sabre, a Belgian malinois, who tragically had to be put down.

Sabre’s teeth were filed down, leaving the dog in pain.