Edinburgh man handed 10-year pet ban after dogs found in squalid conditions
Ryan Wallace, 62, was ordered to pay compensation to the Scottish SPCA and banned from keeping pets for a decade
An Edinburgh man has been banned from keeping pets and ordered to pay compensation to an animal charity after he mistreated two dogs in his care.
Ryan Wallace, 62, caused his two dogs named Gypsy and Duke to suffer unnecessarily by failing to provide adequate care and treatment to the animals at his home in 2023.
A Scottish SPCA inspector was forced to attend the property following concerns for the dogs and found them to be severely matted and underweight.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the animals were seized by the animal charity and after receiving treatment from a vet they were both said to have recovered and were re-homed.
Prosecutor Bruce McCrossan told the court the animal charity inspector called at Wallace’s home in the Salvesen area of the city at around 3pm on June, 2023.
The dogs were found locked inside a small cage within the living room of the home which was said to have been strewn with rubbish at the time.
The dogs were barking continuously and their bedding was covered in faeces and urine.
Wallace admitted to the inspector he had been struggling to look after the dogs due to him suffering from poor health and the animals were taken into the care of the charity.
The dogs were subsequently found to be lacking in hydration and nutrition as well as their chests, abdomens and paws being matted and being underweight.
Lawyer Addison Baker said her client had suffered from a series of physical ailments and had “relinquished ownership willingly” following the visit from the Scottish SPCA.
Ms Baker described the case as “very unfortunate” and said Wallace “should have passed them on” when he found he could not look after the dogs.
Sheriff Ferguson said: “I have listened to everything said on your behalf and this is very, very unfortunate situation and you were very ill and that is the root cause of the matter.
“What I am going to do is disqualify you from owning or keeping animals for a period of 10 years and I am going to order you to pay compensation to the sum of £300 to the SSPCA.”
Wallace pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide an adequate environment and failing to provide a clean environment for two dogs at his home between May 29 and June 8, 2023.