GREENOCK MAN FINED AND BANNED FROM KEEPING ANIMALS AFTER NEGLECTING PET DRAGON
A GREENOCK man who caused ‘unnecessary suffering’ to his pet dragon has been banned from keeping animals.Jonathan Smith claimed he didn’t have enough money to replace a broken UV light which was vital to the creature’s survival.
His bearded dragon ‘Tizro’ became listless and emaciated with no fat or muscle mass due to the lack of a working lamp.
The three-year-old lizard weighed only a fifth of what it should have for its age, Greenock Sheriff Court was told.
Procurator fiscal depute Kevin Doherty said: “The Scottish SPCA received a report from a member of the public regarding the care of the lizard.
It was Mr Smith’s position, and the Crown accepts this, that he was feeding his pet — but that in itself is not enough for an animal of this kind.
“It is an absolute requirement that it be kept in a suitable environment and essential it has a UV light in order to digest food properly and promote bone growth.” The court heard how a Scottish SPCA inspector sent to investigate the neglect case ordered immediate veterinary treatment for Tizro.
Smith, 24, claimed that his UV light — which could have been replaced for around £20, according to online retail prices — had been broken for ‘around a month’.
Mr Doherty said: “The animal was extremely small in stature and emaciated with no fat or muscle.
The dragon was subsequently treated and made a reasonably good recovery, and is now thriving.” The fiscal depute added that Smith was ‘concerned’ about Tizro and had gone to the shop from where he bought the animal for advice on what to do — but then took no further action.
Defense lawyer Gerry Keenan said: “Mr Smith was upset that he could not provide the level of care required.
Mr Smith has been the owner of the creature for three years and there has never been any concerns before about his ability to care for an animal.
“What led to this omission was financial constraints, but these have had fairly dramatic consequences.
He was pre-occupied by family emergencies and he had hoped to eventually have the money to replace the UV light.” Sheriff Rajni Swanney accepted that Smith ‘didn’t mean’ to harm his pet, but added: “Nevertheless, harm was done.” The sheriff told him: “I don’t suggest that you didn’t love the animal but you must also understand the consequences of the situation.
“There are many ways in which you could have ensured the proper care for it, even on limited funds.
“You could have taken it to the PDSA, for example.” Smith, of Belville Street, Greenock, was fined £300 and banned from owning or keepings animals for three years.
He has been allowed 60 weeks to pay the fine in full.
