Staffies found surrounded by faeces and bearded dragon left for dead in 'filthy' home

A woman has been sentenced after animal welfare investigators found dogs surrounded by faeces and another pet left for dead in a “filthy” home.

Kirsty Montgomery, from Glasgow, was banned from keeping animals for five years and sentenced to a community payback order after she admitted breaches of animal welfare legislation on April 22 at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

She was also placed under supervision for 12 months.

Montgomery failed to adequately care for her dogs, including two young puppies, keeping them in “seriously unsafe and unsanitary conditions”, according to the Scottish SPCA.

She also left her bearded dragon for dead.

An SSPCA Inspector, along with Police Scotland officers, attended her property on November 22, 2024, after concerns for the welfare of three dogs and a bearded dragon were raised with the society’s Animal Helpline.

Upon entering the property, investigators say there was immediate great concern for the living conditions inside.

A ten-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Chase, was found in the living room, while two five-month-old Staffies named Daisy and River were in the kitchen.

The Scottish SPCA inspector said: “We walked into dog faeces at the front door, chewed up rubbish and hazardous items like aerosol cans, all across the floor. There was also an unidentified white powder on the couch. It was all filthy – extremely unsanitary for both animals and humans alike.

“There were also sharp-edged dog tin lids, empty dog food wrappers, plastic bags and a mop bucket containing dirty brown water. All of it was easily accessible to the dogs, which would’ve caused them significant harm if ingested.”

“The clutter went up to my knees in places”
SSPCA investigator

Montgomery is said to have informed the inspector that there was a bearded dragon in a vivarium upstairs, which she believed was dead and had not gone near it since.

The Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “Upstairs in the property, there was an obstacle course from the top of the stairs, throughout the hallway and in the bedrooms.

“There were several objects littering the floors, including a large dollhouse, a set of drawers, and various other household items.

“There was also a dismantled bed on the floor lying on top of a pile of other bedroom furniture, bags, poles and toys. The clutter went up to my knees in places.

Women sentenced after keeping animals in unsanitary conditions and leaving one for dead Scottish SPCA

“Some of the clothes lying on the ground and flooring were soiled with dog faeces.

“The bathroom floor also appeared grimy and there was a bottle of cleaning liquid on the floor which could easily have been chewed by the dogs and caused them great harm.

“The third bedroom was simply chaotic. There were a large tub of disinfectant and a bottle of bleach at the door, bits of shredded foam across the floor, cardboard boxes, a desk lamp lying on its side, crisp wrappers, an upturned bed and a heavily stained mattress on the floor.

“There was also a small cupboard which had around seven black bin bags piled inside.

“The vivarium which was meant to contain the deceased bearded dragon was in the middle of all this mess.

“When I opened the door, I was suddenly taken aback as the bearded dragon in question was under some branches and was, in fact, alive.”

The bearded dragon, named Toothless, was in very poor condition, cold to the touch and seemed lethargic.

The Inspector said: “In the vivarium, there were some dead flies, an empty water bowl, and no food, UVB lighting or a dedicated heat source. These are basic requirements for this type of animal, and it is imperative for its welfare.”

It was then decided it would be in the best interest for all animals to be removed from the property and taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA. They were then taken to the Scottish SPCA’s Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre for further care.

After examining the pictures of the property, a vet said: “The risk of injury to the dogs was high, the risk of disease from the contaminated environment also high, and the cumulative effect would, in my opinion, equate to these dogs suffering unnecessarily.

“The same applies to the bearded dragon, with serious risk to health from the lack of provision of heat, light and water and considerable suffering in the process.

“Bearded dragons are gregarious, active creatures normally and for this one to be hiding under a log the way it was strongly indicates that it was enduring a miserable existence.

“Prolonged endurance of conditions such as those seen in the vivarium would eventually have led to the animal dying.”

All animals were either signed over or relinquished to the Scottish SPCA and have since been rehomed into loving families.

Reacting to the sentencing, the Scottish SPCA inspector said: “We are pleased with the Sheriff’s decision. Montgomery showed complete disregard for her dogs’ and bearded dragon’s 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 Montgomery cannot go on to hurt other animals undetected.”