PERPARIM TAHIRAJ FROM HELENSBURGH BANNED FOR HORSE NEGLECT

Perparim Tahiraj, born on September 21, 1970, and residing at 36 Williamson Drive, Helensburgh G84 7LH, was convicted in 2020 for neglecting five horses by failing to provide proper veterinary care and nourishment. He was found to have left the horses to graze freely on unsuitable land without permission, leading to severe neglect.

Tahiraj, originally from Albania, told Scottish SPCA inspectors he would neither feed nor care for the horses—Al, Africa, Cinderella, Song, and Tia—and refused to surrender ownership. Previously convicted of domestic violence, Tahiraj allowed the horses to roam on land he did not own, which was muddy, lacked shelter, and was inappropriate for grazing. Over a year, the horses suffered from emaciation, with their conditions worsening due to the poor environment, littered with broken fencing and poisonous rhododendron bushes.

On Christmas Eve 2018, Tahiraj declared to Scottish SPCA inspectors that he would not feed or look after his horses, and also refused to hand them over for their care. He was convicted under Section 24 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 for failing to ensure a suitable environment, adequate diet, and protection from suffering, injury, or disease.

As a result, he was banned from owning or keeping horses for five years, with the sentence deferred for six months, allowing him time to stay out of trouble. It was also revealed that Tahiraj, unemployed, is using some of his benefits to pay off existing fines. He claimed health issues, including depression, anxiety, and arthritis, prevented him from completing unpaid community work.

Scottish SPCA inspector Gillian Dick commented: “We are pleased Tahiraj has been handed a ban for this level of neglect. Tahiraj is well known to the Scottish SPCA, with whom we have frequently dealt, often removing animals from his care. Despite offering guidance and advice, he continued to neglect the horses, refusing to sign them over to us. The horses were underweight, with four suffering skin infections needing veterinary treatment. The grazing area was inadequate, muddy, and lacked proper shelter, exposing the animals to poisonous plants and unsafe fencing. This sentence reflects the severity of his neglect and highlights the importance of responsible animal care. We hope it encourages Tahiraj to consider his capacity for future animal ownership.”

A group of concerned residents, the ‘Friends of Blairvadach Horses’, stated that horses had been flying grazing on the council-owned Blairvadach site since 2015, but efforts to help them intensified in September 2018 due to their poor health. The group spent hundreds of pounds on feed and supplies, delivering them regularly until the horses were removed by Scottish SPCA on December 28, 2018. They expressed heartbreak over watching the horses’ condition deteriorate, their ribs showing and surrounded by poisonous plants.

Peter McDonald, chair of Horse Rescue Scotland, explained that their role was to advise the Friends on proper care and legal procedures. He noted a legal opportunity arose in autumn 2018 when Tahiraj had not been seen at the site for several weeks, invoking legislation related to animal abandonment. McDonald also mentioned upcoming legislation that will bolster powers to prosecute animal neglect and improve enforcement.

Tahiraj’s ban from keeping any equines will last five years, expiring in February 2025. This case underscores the importance of animal welfare laws and responsible ownership.