A man who failed to provide veterinary treatment for injuries caused by a prohibited procedure to his dog, has been given a three-year ban on owning any dog.
James Casey, from Glasgow, was found guilty of failing to obtain vet treatment in satisfactory time for the cropping the ears of his dog, an XL bully named Courtney.
He was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 11 March 2025 and also received a £420 fine.
A Scottish SPCA special investigations inspector said, “We were made aware of James Casey after he presented his dog, Courtney, to an emergency veterinary surgery on 28 March 2022.
“He stated the dog was lethargic, not eating and suffering from diarrhoea. Casey claimed she was a mastiff puppy, but she was later found to be a three-month-old XL bully.
“It was immediately apparent to the veterinary staff that Courtney’s ears had been cropped and were infected. The wounds were inflamed, painful and contained pus.
“Casey was questioned several times about what had happened to Courtney’s ears and each time the dates were inconsistent.
“He stated Courtney’s ears were already cropped when he bought her from a seller in Manchester who he contacted on Gumtree and then met in a car park.
“He said he did not notice her ears until he got her home and assumed they were a result of a fight with another dog.
“However, at the veterinary examination the wounds were determined to be around a week old and no more than two weeks old at the very latest.
“He said he thought the ears would heal on their own.
“Casey also gave the registration of a car he claimed to have travelled down to Manchester in but when this was checked the vehicle did not exist.
“This illegal procedure would have caused Courtney considerable pain and discomfort for purely cosmetic reasons.
“In the UK, as ear cropping is a prohibited procedure, any operation is unlikely to be carried out with appropriate anaesthetic or pain relief. Casey has allowed this to be carried out to a defenceless young dog, undoubtedly causing significant unnecessary suffering, with no regard for the pain and discomfort this would ultimately cause Courtney.
“This was a horrific act which we are seeing all too frequently. We are glad he got a ban, but it should have been for a longer period.
“If anyone is concerned about an animal, they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
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