A STEVENSTON woman has been fined after she admitted letting her dog getting into such a state that it became emaciated.  Cheryl Wilson, 30, who lives in Alexander Avenue, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week after she pled guilty by letter to causing the dog unnecessary suffering.  The court heard how the SSPCA had attended at her home and found a German Shepherd named Bonnie which was examined and found to be in an emaciated state.  The dog’s ribs and hip bones were visible to the human eye and there was hair loss too.  The officer reported the general condition of the dog was dispirited.  Assistance of a vet had not been sought by Wilson and the dog was removed from the house for a proper examination.  The animal, which is believed to between five and seven years old, got a number one on the body condition scale out of a possible five.  The vet said that the dog had been under-fed for at least a few weeks and had unnecessary suffering as well as fleas.

Wilson was relinquished of ownership of the dog and it was sent for rehoming.  Douglas Wright, defending, said he had seen photographs of the dog in which it looked a good state.

But he said things began to go wrong at Christmas 2013 when Wilson’s house was broken into and the place was left trashed whilst the dog was there and that they had to move.  He also said his client had bought cream to treat the fleas but the SSPCA Officer claimed it was no use at all.  She decided to give up a losing battle and even tried to make inquiries to find out how the dog was doing but was unable to do so.  Sheriff Murphy fined Wilson £260 but didn’t put a disqualification in place due to the period of suffering only being a couple of weeks.