STIRLING MAN FINED FOR ABANDONING DOGS OUTSIDE SUPERMARKET
A man who abandoned two dogs outside a Stirling supermarket stated to police that he would “do the same thing in another location” if he were to get the dogs back.Gordon Stevenson, aged 60, tied the malamutes at the Co-op on Stirling’s Causewayside Road where they remained tied for several hours until the police came to collect them.
After a social media appeal, Stevenson was identified as the owner.
When police visited him, he expressed a desire not to keep the dogs.
Stirling Sheriff Court reported that the dogs were eventually rehomed.
The police response began when a member of the public spotted the dogs around 6pm, and CCTV footage showed Stevenson approaching the scene from Stirling and walking away towards Bridge of Allan.
Police posts on social media traced the owner, and by 11pm, Stevenson was identified.
When officers visited him, he admitted he did not want the animals and refused to take them back, asserting he would abandon them again.
Stevenson explained the dogs belonged to his late ex-partner, who had previously abandoned them.
He claimed he was unable to care for the dogs due to health reasons, describing himself as physically disabled.
The court heard that Stevenson had made unsuccessful attempts to give the dogs to charity before abandoning them.
During sentencing, Stevenson admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog on February 26.
Sheriff Euan Gosney acknowledged that Stevenson had taken steps to rehome the dogs but suggested there was some element of planning involved.
The sheriff pointed out Stevenson had sought to offload the dogs without regard for their welfare, and praised the staff at the Co-op for limiting the suffering.
Stevenson received a fine of £100 and was banned from keeping dogs for five years.
