Dundee sisters face trial over dog dumped in bin

Animal was so ill it had to be put down

Two sisters accused of dumping a dog into an industrial waste bin in a residential street in Dundee will face trial on November 30.

Heather Stott, 58, and Norma Stott, 71, deny mistreating a dog, Dougal, and causing it unnecessary suffering.

They also deny abandoning it with no source of food or water or means of escape.

The sisters, both of Court Street in Dundee, were not present at Dundee Sheriff Court but pled not guilty through a solicitor to two offences under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

The pair are said to have failed to provide the dog with appropriate and adequate nutrition and water and failed to provide adequate care and treatment for the dog between March 19 and April 15 this year.

It is said to have suffered from emaciation, dehydration and dental disease.

The discovery of the dog, discarded in a bin, prompted outrage and an appeal for information to help track down those responsible.

It was found by a member of the public in Dundonald Street, lying, unable to stand, amid refuse.

The Scottish SPCA was alerted and the dog was taken into care.

An inspector had to climb down into the base of a large steel bin to rescue him.

He was severely malnourished, dehydrated and critically ill.

It was decided that the only humane option was to put the animal down.

There was evidence to suggest that the stricken dog had been in a black bin bag when dumped.

At the time, the SSPCA described the treatment of the dog as “unimaginably cruel” and said the animal would have “suffered a great deal”.

Ahead of trial, an intermediate diet has been set for November 10.

An SSPCA inspector climbed into the bin to rescue Dougal.