PETERHEAD MAN DAVID YOUNGSON FACES FINE OVER CRUELTY TO DOG DOODLES

In a case that has sparked concern among animal welfare advocates, David Youngson, a resident of Bell Avenue in Peterhead, was found guilty of neglecting his pet dog, a Lhasa Apso named Doodles. The incident, which came to light following an investigation by the Scottish SPCA, revealed severe neglect that caused the dog unnecessary suffering.

Youngson, born on August 21, 1961, pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty after authorities uncovered the extent of Doodles' distress. The investigation showed that the dog was left in a deplorable state, suffering from severe matting of fur that impeded its ability to walk properly. The matted fur was not only a source of discomfort but was also heavily contaminated with faecal matter, particularly around the hindquarters and feet. The smell of urine and faeces was overpowering, indicating a lack of proper grooming and veterinary care.

According to reports, Doodles was in such poor condition that he was struggling to move, with a significantly reduced range of motion in all four limbs. The dog was also lame on his right hind leg, a consequence of the matting restricting his movement. Veterinary examinations confirmed that the fur was severely matted across his entire body, and the contamination had led to urine scalding on all four feet and around the groin area. The condition of the dog was so dire that his body weight was recorded at 9.4 kilograms upon presentation, but after the removal of the matted fur, his weight had dropped to just 7.5 kilograms.

Inspector Fiona Shand from the Scottish SPCA expressed her disappointment with the court's handling of the case. While Youngson was fined £1,000 for causing suffering to Doodles, the court did not impose a ban on him keeping animals, resulting in Doodles being returned to his care. Inspector Shand emphasized that the case highlighted the need for tougher and more consistent sentencing in animal cruelty cases. She explained that the extent of the matting was not a sudden development but had likely taken a considerable amount of time to reach such a severe state, during which Doodles endured unnecessary pain and suffering that could have been easily prevented.

Inspector Shand further stated, “Although we welcome the fact that this case has been dealt with by the court, we are disappointed with the sentence handed down. As no ban was issued, Doodles had to be returned to Youngson’s care. This case further highlights our push for tougher and more consistent sentencing. This degree of matting had not occurred quickly and is likely to have taken a considerable amount of time to get to this state. Doodles suffered unnecessarily as a result of this and it could have been easily avoided.”