SSPCA hit out over pony sentence

The sentence imposed on a woman who caused suffering to a Shetland pony has been criticised as too lenient by the Scottish SPCA.

Dog breeder Martha Balmain (69), of Balbeggie Avenue in Thornton, was banned from keeping animals apart from dogs yesterday after being found in possession of a pony with such badly overgrown hooves it had to be humanely put down to end its suffering.

THE SENTENCE imposed on a woman who caused suffering to a Shetland pony has been criticised as too lenient by the Scottish SPCA.

Dog breeder Martha Balmain (69), of Balbeggie Avenue, Thornton, was yesterday banned from keeping animals apart from dogs after being found in possession of a pony with such badly overgrown hooves it had to be put down.

The charity said Balmain, who currently has 20 dogs, should have been prevented from keeping any animals at all.

When its inspectors visited her premises last year, they discovered the creature with hooves that had been deformed through years of neglect, leaving it struggling to walk.

The 10-year-old pony, Smudge, had been left “effectively crippled,” and the Scottish SPCA described its chances of ever making a full recovery as “nil.”

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “We welcome the life ban that has been imposed on Balmain for this offence.

“However, we are disappointed that the ban does not extend to all animals as, in our opinion, Balmain has demonstrated that she is unfit to keep any animal through her failure to provide any sort of veterinary treatment for the pony that suffered so tragically in her care.”

Passing sentence, Sheriff James Williamson took into account the fact the pony had only been in Balmain’s care for three weeks.

At a previous hearing, the court was told it would have taken three to four years for the hooves to become so deformed.

Sheriff Williamson told Balmain yesterday: “It can’t be said that you were responsible for causing that, but as someone who is experienced in looking after animals, you should have been aware that the pony required treatment.”

Balmain, who appeared in court as a first offender, was fined £600 and disqualified from keeping animals other than dogs, and told she could keep no more than 40 dogs at any one time.

It was revealed she had been contacted by someone who made a request to leave the pony on her land, although it was not known who the owner was.

Scottish SPCA officers inspected Balmain’s premises on August 11 last year and again two weeks later.

They issued a warning notice after there were concerns about the cleanliness of Balmain’s kennels.

The court heard the issues had been addressed to their satisfaction on the second visit.

Picture: Central Scotland News Agency. The pony had to be put down.

Martha Balmain leaving court.