Target: Alastair Milne, Procurator Fiscal, Aberdeenshire & Kincardine, Scotland, UK
Goal: Pursue the maximum penalties—including a permanent ban on owning animals and stricter community or custodial sanctions—for the individual who reportedly kept three Labradors emaciated in a waste-soaked cage.
Three Labradors—Phoenix, Bella and Vadar—were reportedly discovered huddled together inside a tiny, urine- and feces-stained cage in a cluttered garage. According to the Scottish SPCA, the dogs had no food, water, bedding, or space to move, and each was severely underweight and scavenging scraps in a “dirty” home. Inspectors said the stench and filth were overwhelming.
The welfare charity had previously visited the owner and provided advice and resources on proper care, yet the animals’ condition allegedly worsened in the following weeks. When authorities returned, all three dogs were reportedly found further emaciated, their ribs starkly visible, and their suffering was deemed prolonged and unnecessary by veterinary assessments. Despite this reported neglect, the court imposed only a five-year dog-ownership prohibition and 120 hours of unpaid work.
Such lenient measures risk sending the message that sustained cruelty carries minimal consequences. Robust prosecution and tougher sentencing—including a lifelong prohibition on animal ownership, extensive monitoring, and, where appropriate, custodial time—are essential to safeguard other animals and reinforce Scotland’s zero-tolerance stance on cruelty.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Procurator Fiscal Milne,
Recent reports from the Scottish SPCA describe a disturbing case in which three Labradors were allegedly confined in a cramped, soiled cage without food, water, bedding, or veterinary care. Inspectors state that despite prior intervention and support, the owner’s failure to act left Phoenix, Bella and Vadar severely emaciated and suffering for weeks.
Although the court imposed a five-year ban on dog ownership and community service, the alleged prolonged nature of the neglect and the disregard for professional guidance point to a grave breach of Scotland’s animal-welfare statutes. Without stronger repercussions, future offenders may view such sentences as a manageable risk rather than a serious deterrent.
We therefore urge your office to explore every legal avenue to secure the harshest outcome permitted by law. This should include advocating for a lifetime prohibition on keeping animals, enhanced supervision, and, where possible, stricter community or custodial penalties. A resolute response will honor the suffering these Labradors apparently endured and reinforce society’s commitment to protecting vulnerable animals.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
