LIZZIE MCLEOD OF ALLOA SENTENCED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY IN SCOTLAND

Elizabeth McLeod, born on September 7, 1977, and residing in Lawswell, Alloa FK10 3JD, was convicted in 2019 of animal cruelty after neglecting her dog, Cody. She starved her dog and failed to seek veterinary treatment for her pet's potentially fatal infections over a two-month period from April 1 to June 1, 2018.

The Scottish SPCA had responded to a tip-off and visited McLeod's home, where they discovered a female dog confined in a crate with puppies. The dog was described as "incredibly thin, with her rib cage, spine, and pelvic bones clearly visible." The bedding inside the crate emanated a foul smell and was stained with urine and feces. There were no food or water bowls present.

McLeod was instructed to provide Cody with food and water. She fed the dog two bowls of food, which she ate "vociferously, taking large mouthfuls," and she drank two full bowls of water very quickly. Veterinary examination revealed that Cody had fresh blood on her hind legs and around her vaginal area.

During questioning, McLeod told the vet she had owned Cody for two years but had never taken her to a veterinarian.

Veterinary assessments found Cody to be severely emaciated, with a body condition score of one out of nine. She had used up nearly all her fat reserves to produce milk for her puppies. Cody also suffered from a urinary infection requiring surgery. During the procedure, an enlarged uterus was discovered, containing multiple placentas that had caused the infection.

The veterinary team warned that if untreated, Cody could have developed a life-threatening septicaemia.

Scottish SPCA Inspector Seddon commented, "McLeod caused unnecessary suffering by neglecting veterinary care for her dog, Cody, who had a bacterial womb infection, and by failing to provide proper nutrition that risked the health of her twelve puppies." He added, "When I visited, Cody was with her puppies in a cage with bedding saturated with faeces and urine. Cody was found to be incredibly thin, emaciated — her rib cage, spine, and pelvic bones were all visible, and her head appeared too large for her body. There was obvious discharge and blood around her genital area, indicating a medical condition."

Inspector Seddon continued, "I observed Cody eating two bowls of food voraciously and drinking two full bowls of water very quickly, with a third half-bowl consumed too. The vet scored her body condition as one out of nine, and she weighed 27.8kg, whereas she should have weighed around 40kg. Ten of her twelve puppies were underweight. It was confirmed that Cody had a bacterial womb infection that required her ovaries and womb to be removed, as there were multiple retained placentas causing the infection. If left untreated, she could have died within days."

He expressed relief that Cody recovered fully and found a loving forever home. "The puppies didn't last long in our centre, but I am pleased to say they all found happy homes," he stated.

McLeod’s case was overseen by Sheriff David Mackie, who sentenced her to 12 months of supervision and banned her from owning or caring for dogs for five years. The ban, which expired in February 2024, underscores the importance of responsible pet ownership.

The Alloa Advertiser and The Sun reported on the case, highlighting the court's recognition that there was no intention to harm the dogs but emphasizing the importance of animal welfare laws.

Cody and all her puppies have since been rehomed through the Scottish SPCA.