Aberdeen woman given animal ban after two 'skeletal' dogs living in faeces and urine

A woman has been banned from keeping animals after two skeletal dogs were found living in one of the worst cases of neglect the Scottish SCPA has ever seen.

Two dogs belonging to Samantha Stockdale were found living among several weeks’ worth of faeces and urine at a property in Aberdeen.

The home was described as littered with rubbish bags and broken glass, covered in faeces, the majority of which were loose and some of which had turned mouldy.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Marshmallow, four, and German Shepherd Max, six, were discovered extremely underweight, with their hips, spine and ribs clearly visible.

Inspectors from the animal welfare charity visited Stockdale’s address in June 2024 after a concern for welfare was raised through their helpline.

The house was described as being in 'disarray'. — The house was described as being in ‘disarray’. Supplied

Upon entering the property, inspectors said it was clear the house was extremely unkept, and that both dogs had not been taken care of for a long time.

An inspector said: “The whole house was in disarray. There were rubbish bags and broken glass littering the floors. The bedroom was cluttered with personal items and cigarette buts – all easily accessible to the dogs.

“There was several days if not weeks’ worth of faeces and urine throughout the property, the majority of which was loose or diarrhoea. Some of it had already turned mouldy.

“Their behaviour showed they had had no access to appropriate food or water for a long time. There were empty packets of food across the floor that had been chewed by them, and I found Max drinking from the toilet bowl.

“They were ravenous when we offered them treats and grabbed at them frantically. It was heartbreaking to see them in such poor conditions.

“There was no bedding or comfortable resting area for the dogs other than a piece of carpet, which was also soiled with faeces and urine. Two dog bowls were also seen within this contaminated area and contained no food or water.

“It is one of the worst cases of extreme neglect I have seen in years. It was totally disgusting, abhorrent and heart-wrenching to see that someone could keep animals in those conditions.”

The house was littered with rubbish bags and glass Supplied

The dogs were removed from the property and transported to the SPCA’s Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre in Aberdeen.

A veterinary examination found they had been unnecessarily suffering for over a month.

Max had a body score of 1/9, his nails were also overgrown on all four paws, and his fur was matted and had dried faeces on it.

Marshmallow was also extremely underweight, with a body score of 2/9. Her coat was also soiled with faeces, and she had an infection in both ears for which she was given treatment.

Max had dried faeces in his fur. Supplied

The vet said: “Their owner would have been fully aware that they were hungry because of their behaviour around food. They also would have been fully aware that their food intake was not adequate for them because of their poor body condition.

“In my professional opinion, Max and Mallow would have taken six weeks of inadequate nutrition to be in the body condition they were in when I examined them. During this time, they were caused unnecessary suffering as they would have been distressed seeking food all the time.”

Stockdale was convicted of failing to adequately feed and seek veterinary attention for her two dogs and keeping them in a hazardous environment.

She admitted breaches of animal welfare legislation on April 13 at Peterhead Sheriff Court and was banned from keeping animals for five years.

She was also made subject of a community payback order and will be supervised for 12 months.

Reacting to the sentencing, the Scottish SPCA inspector said: “We are pleased with the Sheriff’s decision. Stockdale showed very little regard for her dogs’ welfare.

“However, while a ban is the only way to ensure that this does not happen again to any animal, there is currently no system to monitor disqualification orders or track repeat offenders, which will significantly reduce the power of this sentencing.

“That’s why we’re calling for the creation of a National Animal Offenders Register, so criminals like Stockdale cannot go on to hurt other animals undetected.

“This is a key step in preventing future harm, and one that the next Parliament must consider seriously. These policy decisions play a crucial role in delivering our mission to make Scotland the best place in the world for an animal to call home.”