STEPHEN MACDONALD'S CRUELTY CASE IN ABERDEEN LEADS TO ANIMAL ABUSE DISCOVERY

Stephen MacDonald, born on April 20, 1985, and residing at 16 Albert Place, Oldmeldrum, Inverurie AB51 0HE, was convicted in 2022 of keeping four dogs in deplorable conditions with no access to water.

The animals, including a Labrador, a lurcher, and two Cane Corsos, were found in such terrible states that the dogs had begun gnawing through a wooden door in an attempt to escape. MacDonald pleaded guilty to failing to provide a suitable living environment for these dogs.

During the court proceedings, he was characterized as having an “indifference” to animal welfare. Two of the dogs were discovered in a dark, filthy shed without access to fresh air, food, or water, while the other two were confined in a dirty kennel in his back garden.

Scottish SPCA inspector Alexandra Campbell explained the findings: “We attended the address at Albert Place after a member of the public contacted us with concerns that another resident there was breaching an existing ban on owning or keeping dogs.

On further investigation, it was determined that the dogs belonged to Stephen MacDonald. When we arrived, we found a filthy kennel and run in the back garden, where two Cane Corsos were kept in an urine-soaked area with several days’ worth of feces accumulated.

There was a single large bowl of food left behind, indicating the dogs were left unattended for long periods, and two empty water bowls meant they had no access to water. The temperature on that day was 20°C, with the previous day reaching 28°C.

Inside the run was a small wooden kennel, only suitable for one dog of that size, with a strong smell of ammonia present. Noise coming from the shed drew our attention, and a gnawed gap at the bottom of the door revealed two dogs attempting to escape.

Upon opening the shed, we found a female Labrador and a female lurcher, both kept locked inside without ventilation or light. The floor was covered with sawdust, mixed with several days’ worth of feces, and the strong ammonia smell persisted.

Only one empty metal bowl was inside, and neither dog had access to food or water, raising considerable concerns given the hot conditions. Additionally, rusty nails protruded from the shed door above the chewed hole.

The dogs were immediately taken into custody for their welfare and transported to a Scottish SPCA rescue and rehoming centre. Upon arrival, all four dogs were given water and were extremely thirsty, promptly finishing the bowls.

Thanks to the efforts of the animal rescue team, each of the dogs was rehomed, ensuring they will now receive proper care and attention. MacDonald was given a ban on keeping dogs, but due to his associations with someone already convicted of animal cruelty, the court was disappointed that the ban’s duration was not longer.

The court also highlighted MacDonald’s clear inability to provide even basic needs, such as water for his animals.

He was sentenced to a 12-month supervision order, 120 hours of community service, and a five-year ban on owning or keeping dogs.