SAMARA MORECROFT FROM LILLIESLEAF FACES JUSTICE FOR DOG CRUELTY IN KELSO
2026 A MAN and a woman who caused pets in their care unnecessary suffering by failing to feed them properly have been banned from owning dogs at Selkirk Sheriff Court.It resulted in the bodies of the dogs being in an emaciated condition and the owners failed to seek veterinary attention as they deteriorated.
The offences happened when the pair lived together at Hislop's Row in Lilliesleaf between November 22 and December 13, 2023.
Forty-year-old Samara Morecroft, of Gala Park Court, Galashiels, was disqualified from owning dogs for five years and ordered to carry out 65 hours of unpaid work.
She pleaded guilty to being responsible for a one-year-old male cane corso type dog which was not adequately fed.
This caused it to develop an Entropion eye condition and an emaciated body.
Twenty-seven-year-old Ryan Hogg, of Grieve Avenue, Jedburgh, had denied two offences of not feeding two dogs - an eight-year-old German shepherd and an 18-month-old brindle lurcher - in his care adequately.
But, he was found guilty after a trial of failing to provide adequate food for the dogs, which resulted in the animals becoming emaciated, and failing to seek veterinary attention when their conditions deteriorated.
Sheriff Peter Paterson banned Hogg from keeping dogs for two years and fined him a total of 700 with a 340 victim surcharge 2024 Samara Morecroft, a woman born on July 12, 1985, and residing in Lilliesleaf, Melrose TD6 9HX, has been found guilty of a serious case of animal neglect that drew significant concern from local authorities and animal welfare organizations.
The case centered around her treatment of a collie-type dog, which she starved to the point of extreme emaciation during the months of November and December 2022.
Morecroft, a single mother of four, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog by neglecting its health and failing to seek veterinary assistance despite its deteriorating condition.
The incident came to light after an inspection by an SSPCA officer who visited her property at Proctor Smiddy in Kelso.
The officer described the dog as one of the thinnest animals she had ever encountered, highlighting the severity of its malnutrition.
Following the discovery, the dog was taken into care by animal welfare authorities and has since made a good recovery, according to reports.
The court proceedings at Jedburgh Sheriff Court revealed the details of the case, including the fact that the dog’s condition was dire due to neglect while in Morecroft’s care.
During the hearing, her defense lawyer, Ross Dow, explained that Morecroft had initially taken ownership of the dog from a farmer who was planning to euthanize it.
He emphasized that she was not an experienced or particularly capable dog owner, and her intentions at the outset were good.
Mr.
Dow stated that Morecroft had provided food for the dog, but it lacked a proper appetite, which complicated her efforts to care for it.
He further acknowledged that Morecroft should have taken the dog to a veterinarian but was hindered by financial constraints.
The lawyer admitted that she had “taken her eye off the ball” regarding the animal’s worsening condition, which contributed to the neglect.
Judge Sheriff Peter Paterson considered the mitigating circumstances presented but emphasized the gravity of the situation.
He stated, “The bottom line is that the dog was in an appalling condition as a result of being in your care,” underscoring the seriousness of the neglect.
As part of her sentence, Morecroft was fined £500 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.
Additionally, she received a five-year ban from owning or possessing any dog, a restriction that will remain in effect until October 2029.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities involved in pet ownership and the consequences of neglecting animal welfare.
