ANDREW WHYTE'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL NEGLECT IN FRASERBURGH LEADS TO FIVE-YEAR DOG BAN

Andrew Whyte, a resident of Fraserburgh, has faced serious legal consequences following his involvement in a distressing case of animal neglect that drew the attention of local authorities and the Scottish SPCA. The incident, which took place within his own home in Fraserburgh, culminated in Whyte being sentenced to a five-year ban from owning or keeping dogs, highlighting the severity of the neglect involved.

Whyte appeared before Peterhead Sheriff Court to answer charges related to the welfare of three Labrador Retrievers, named Phoenix, Bella, and Vadar. These dogs, aged between one and four years, were found in a state of severe neglect, which prompted intervention from the Scottish SPCA. An official spokeswoman from the charity described the conditions in Whyte’s residence as “dirty,” indicating a significant level of disrepair and unsanitary living conditions that contributed to the dogs’ suffering.

The initial intervention by the Scottish SPCA revealed the dogs to be underweight and scavenging for food within a cluttered, filthy environment. Despite the charity’s efforts to offer support and advice to Whyte, the situation did not improve. Over the following weeks, inspectors returned to assess the dogs’ condition and found a disturbing deterioration. The animals were discovered confined together in a small, soiled cage located inside a cluttered garage. The environment was devoid of basic necessities such as food, water, or bedding, and the dogs were found to be severely emaciated, clearly suffering from prolonged neglect.

During court proceedings, Whyte admitted to failing in his duty to provide the dogs with essential care, including adequate nutrition, hydration, shelter, and veterinary treatment. His guilty plea underscored the neglect that had led to the dogs’ suffering, which was confirmed by veterinary assessments. These assessments revealed that all three dogs had been severely emaciated due to ongoing neglect over an extended period.

In addition to the five-year ban on keeping dogs, Whyte was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community service within nine months. The Scottish SPCA spokeswoman expressed disappointment over Whyte’s lack of engagement during the last visit, emphasizing that help had been available to prevent the suffering. She stated, “Whyte would not engage with us during the last visit. The suffering of the dogs was unnecessary, as our help was available. Veterinary assessments confirmed all three dogs were severely emaciated due to neglect over a prolonged period. This case underscores that neglecting even basic needs causes severe suffering and will not be tolerated.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of neglect in the Fraserburgh community.