KIRKMUIRHILL COUPLE GARY AND EDEN HOPKINS CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN 2026
In July 2025, a Scottish SPCA Inspector visited the residence of the Hopkins family in the village of Kirkmuirhill after being alerted by the owner of a 12-year-old lurcher named Monty.Upon inspection, the officer found seven dogs confined within small, broken, and stacked cages that lacked bedding and access to water.
The environment was extremely hot, causing the dogs to pant heavily.
One cage held a doberman and a collie whose legs were so tightly intertwined that they were unable to move.
The floor of this cage was wet and sticky, and no water was available for the animals.
Another cage contained a Staffordshire bull terrier with insufficient space to stand or turn around.
The dogs were confiscated and transported to a Scottish SPCA facility.
While six of the dogs were returned to their owners, Bella, a pug owned by the Hopkins, was kept for ongoing veterinary treatment.
The couple admitted to violating animal welfare laws and were sentenced to a two-year ban on owning or keeping dogs.
The Scottish SPCA inspector criticized their blatant neglect of animal welfare and voiced concerns about potential future risks.
Eden Hopkins hails from Ayr and has family connections there; the couple has also resided in Glasgow.
They are believed to have been backyard breeders and reportedly showed little remorse, allegedly boasting about relocating to a new area to start over.
