Woman’s five-year pet ban over dogs’ conditions

A Fife woman who kept dogs in squalid conditions has been banned from keeping animals for five years.

Helen Burt, 27, was placed on a community payback order for failing to meet the basic needs of three Staffordshire bull terriers.

Animal welfare officers from the Scottish SPCA found the dogs at a filthy home in Rosyth, where they were surrounded by urine, faeces and household debris.

Burt failed to provide the dogs, named Codi, Mali and Shakira, with a suitable environment and failed to meet their needs at an address in Elder Place between January 11 and 25 last year.

Burt previously pled guilty to a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

New homes are now being found for the dogs.

A sheriff at Dunfermline Sheriff Court also imposed a community payback order with a requirement of 100 hours of unpaid work and six months of supervision.

She was banned from keeping animals for five years.

Scottish SPCA inspector Sarah Gregory said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this case, as it was clear that Burt was not able to provide these dogs with even the most basic of care.

“We welcome the five-year ban given to Burt and hope she will seriously consider her ability to care for any other animals in the future.

“The living environment for these animals was cramped and filthy. The entire property was uninhabitable and appeared to have been used as a kennel rather than a home.

“The smell was an overwhelming stench of ammonia, dirt and faeces that made your eyes water. Faeces was trodden in to the floor with fresh matter on top.

“There was litter and broken furniture throughout the property.”

The organisation said all the dogs appeared in good body condition, despite the living environment.

“Not allowing the dogs adequate opportunities to toilet outside the house meant they would be caused stress and potential mental suffering,” Ms Gregory added.