A man has been handed an 11-year ban on owning or keeping animals following a Scottish SPCA investigation that found seven dogs in filthy makeshift kennels on a plot of land in Kelty. He also received a community payback order of 150 hours to be completed with 12 months and a 12-month supervision order

Jay John William Kenny, aged 29, of no fixed abode pled guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to all seven dogs by failing to provide a suitable environment and failing to seek veterinary treatment for one of the dogs, lurcher Gus, at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on 15 June 2023. He was sentenced at the same court on 9 August.

Scottish SPCA inspector, Stephanie Ross, said, “Kenny was already known to the Scottish SPCA. We’d had numerous dealings with him since 2018 due to reports of dogs being kept in poor conditions and his known associations with various individuals who we had previously prosecuted for animal fighting.

“On 19 December we received a call from officers at Police Scotland. They had attended the plot of land belonging to Kenny on an unrelated matter and become immediately concerned for the welfare of the animals due to the conditions they were being kept in.

“On 20 December we attended the premises and found that the conditions were deplorable. The ground was boggy and littered with hazardous material. One dog had taken refuge on top of their wooden kennel and almost resembled a dog stranded on an island.

“All of the areas the dogs were being kept in were heavily soiled with faeces and stank of ammonia. What little straw they had for bedding was foul and sodden with urine. Six of the seven dogs were underweight and many had visible wounds. Most did not even have access to clean drinking water.

“There were two German shepherds and both dogs’ coats were thick with muck and filth. One of the shepherds was attached to a three metre chain. The ground surrounding the dog’s kennel was worn away in a circular shape, suggesting the dog had been here for some time and going round and round in circles. There was also hazardous material like scrap metal and loose nails lying around which could have caused significant damage to the dog.

“A tan and white lurcher named Gus was in particularly poor condition.

“We had concerns for all of the animals’ welfare and immediately removed them from the premises. Gus was taken for veterinary treatment and the others were transported to one of our animal rescue and rehoming centres.

“On veterinary examination, Gus was found to be emaciated and had such a heavy flea burden that they could be seen crawling in his fur. He had alopecia, a bacterial skin infection and several wounds in various stages of healing. There was also a wound to the tip of his tail where the skin had become thickened and leathery. The wounds were likely self-inflicted due to how uncomfortable and itchy the fleas were making him.

“The vet estimated it would have taken a minimum of three to five months for him to develop alopecia and for his tail tip to become hardened.

“Gus also had several fractured teeth, with receding and infected gums which would have been incredibly painful. The vet estimated this would have progressed over six to 12 months.

“We are glad that Kenny has received a ban.

“The lack of basic care and disregard for animal welfare in this case was disgusting. On the day the dogs were seized the temperatures had dropped below freezing. Gus was so severely underweight he would have struggled to maintain any kind of body heat in those conditions.

“All of the dogs recovered well in our care and gained weight. Sadly, Gus had to have his tail amputated due to the severity of the untreated wound at the tip.

“If anyone is concerned about an animal, they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”