A cruel pet owner has been given a ten-year ban on owning animals after starving her kittens to death – but has been allowed to keep her dogs.
Michelle Smith, 36, was found with three ’emaciated’ kittens dead in a feaces-filled rabbit hutch along with eight thin and hungry ones in a filthy caravan.
Smith, from Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire, also had two dead ducks – and admitted that one of her dogs had attacked them earlier that day.
Smith failed to provide an adequate diet, environment and veterinary attention to the cats and ducks which were kept in appalling conditions.
Michelle Smith, 36, was found with three ’emaciated’ kittens dead in a feaces-filled rabbit hutch along with eight thin and hungry ones which were found in a filthy caravan
At Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Tuesday, she admitted to five counts of animal neglect between July and August last year.
She was given a ten-year ban on owning and keeping animals, excluding dogs, with a further sentence deferred for six months.
The horror find was discovered after a good Samaritan called a hotline and tipped off inspectors.
SSPCA workers were shocked to discover hungry kittens clawing at a rabbit hutch which stank of feaces and urine.
She was given a ten-year ban on owning and keeping animals, excluding dogs, with a further sentence deferred for six months.
A rabbit hutch containing three dead ’emaciated’ kittens and eight thin and hungry ones was found at the property.
SSPCA rescuers were shocked when they checked out the property and found hungry kittens clawing at the rabbit hutch which stank of feaces and urine
Ms Simpson said the caravan stank of cat urine and feaces and there kittens running loose and some lying dead
Also within the caravan, there were seven ducks, eight hens and two dead ducks – and Smith admitted that one of her dogs had attacked them earlier that day.
The horror find was discovered after a good Samaritan called a hotline and tipped off inspectors.
Scottish SPCA senior inspector Alison Simpson, said: ‘I noticed a residential caravan which was not used as a residence but rather had cats in pens at the rear interior.
‘Opposite the house, I saw a rabbit hutch where kittens could be heard.
‘I first asked Smith if I could look in the rabbit hutch where I heard the kittens, it was a two-story hutch and stank of faeces and urine.
‘The kittens were clawing and climbing at the mesh front. Alison added: ‘Within the hutch, there were eight small kittens alive, around four or five weeks old, all were extremely thin, dirty and wet.
Smith, from Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire, also had seven ducks, eight hens and two dead ducks – and Smith admitted that one of her dogs had attacked them earlier that day
‘There were also three dead kittens which appeared to be emaciated.’
Ms Simpson said the caravan also stank of cat urine and feaces and there kittens running loose and some lying dead.
There was also no food or water available for the cats inside the caravan.
Alison said: ‘On initial inspection of the first caravan room and the seven cats inside they were all noted as being underweight, some severely, and there was evidence of chronic eye issues, gingivitis, ear mites and varying degrees of matting or build-up of faeces.
‘The deceased kitten was in an extremely emaciated state.
‘Within the second room of the caravan, there was another deceased kitten.
‘This room was in a similar state to the first room in the caravan, with faecal matter covering the room and cats.
The vet had examined the kittens and removed them from the rabbit hutch.
Ms Simpson said: ‘Once the vet had examined the kittens which had been removed from the rabbit hutch they were found to be in poor body condition and covered faeces and urine.
‘The kittens all had dirty ears and ear mites.
‘All poultry examined at the locus were significantly underweight with two being deceased. Two of the hens were quiet, and hunched over, indicating illness.
‘The vet believed the birds had not had their nutritional requirements met for a minimum of seven days.
‘The ducks were in the same condition, two were kept in a pen by themselves as Smith stated they had been injured by a dog earlier on that day.’
She added: ‘This is a shocking case of neglect which did not happen overnight and could have been easily avoided.
‘I’m happy the courts have dealt with this case and this sentence handed out, with a further sentence to come in six months.’