Latest news with #Cummines
STV News
03-07-2025
- STV News
Dog walker kept over 20 animals in 'one of the worst homes ever seen' by SSPCA
An Aberdeenshire dog walker has been sentenced for keeping over 20 animals in one of the worst homes ever seen by the Scottish SPCA. Sarah Cummines, who pleaded guilty to neglect, was found to be keeping dogs, cats, and a ferret in 'squalid' conditions with no access to food or water. The dog walker and pet sitter was visited by inspectors after a complaint was made about potential neglect at her property. On arrival, nine adult dogs, nine puppies, four adult cats, five kittens, and a ferret were found living among piles of waste, excrement, and debris. The animals had no access to clean resting areas, food, or water, with the smell described as 'overwhelming' and the interior said to be 'truly appalling'. The floor of the property was completely obscured by a foot-high layer of rubbish, excrement, and discarded items. Cats were found living on top of kitchen cabinets among faeces, while the kitchen sink was described as full of rubbish. An SSPCA inspector reported: 'One small dog was seen climbing over piles of waste and jumping between appliances to avoid touching the floor. 'All the animals were frightened, and the cats were visibly nervous. This was no environment for any animal or human.' The investigation also found that the animals were navigating over old dog crates and hazardous items to reach basic spaces like the kitchen or doors. Evidence of chewed beds and distressed behaviours indicated prolonged suffering and stress. The inspector added: 'We were horrified not only by the condition of the animals but by the state of the entire home. The bedroom was one of the worst rooms we've encountered, and a box room was barricaded shut inside, a ferret had escaped its cage. 'These were among the worst living conditions for both animals and a human we have ever witnessed.' Despite being offered help and the opportunity to give up the animals voluntarily, Cummines refused. The animals were subsequently removed for their welfare. Cummines, of Aberdeenshire, appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court on June 23, where she pled guilty to failing to meet the basic welfare needs of dogs, cats, and a ferret in her care. Cummines admitted to multiple counts of animal neglect and given a disqualification order imposed for five years relating to dogs, cats and other household pets. She was given a community payback order with supervision for one year. A spokesperson for the Scottish SPCA added: 'We welcome the court's decision today. No animal should be forced to live in such filth and fear. This outcome sends a clear message that neglecting the welfare of animals will not be tolerated in Scotland.' The Scottish SPCA encourages anyone concerned about the welfare of an animal or if they suspect signs of animal neglect to contact their confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
26-06-2025
- Daily Record
Scots woman kept 28 animals in 'rubbish and excrement' in 'appalling' incident
"The smell was overwhelming, and the interior conditions were truly appalling. The floor was completely obscured by a foot-high layer of rubbish, excrement, and discarded items." A Scots dog walker has been given a disqualification order for five years for dogs, cats and other pets after keeping more than 20 animals in squalid conditions. On Monday June 23, Sarah Cummines appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court where she pled guilty to failing to meet the basic welfare needs of dogs, cats and a ferret in her care. Cummines worked as a dog walker and pet sitter when the incidents occurred and admitted to multiple counts of animal neglect after being found keeping animals in a home described as one of the worst ever seen by Scottish SPCA inspectors, reports Aberdeen Live. Inspectors discovered a shocking scene of nine adult dogs, nine puppies, four adult cats, five kittens, and one ferret living among piles of waste, excrement, and debris. The animals had no access to clean resting areas, food, or water, and many were exposed to dangerous and unhygienic conditions. A Scottish SPCA inspector said: "We received a complaint in October 2024 about potential neglect at Cummines' property. On arrival, the smell was overwhelming, and the interior conditions were truly appalling. The floor was completely obscured by a foot-high layer of rubbish, excrement, and discarded items. "Cats were living on top of kitchen cabinets among faeces and filth. The kitchen sink was full of rubbish and clearly had not been in use for some time. The animals had no access to clean areas and were forced to groom themselves in filth, posing serious health risks." "One small dog was seen climbing over piles of waste and jumping between appliances to avoid touching the floor. All the animals were frightened, and the cats were visibly nervous. This was no environment for any animal or human." The investigation also found that the animals were navigating over old dog crates and hazardous items to reach basic spaces like the kitchen or doors. Evidence of chewed beds and distressed behaviours indicated prolonged suffering and stress. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The inspector continued: "We were horrified not only by the condition of the animals but by the state of the entire home. The bedroom was one of the worst rooms we've encountered, and a box room was barricaded shut inside, a ferret had escaped its cage. These were among the worst living conditions for both animals and a human we have ever witnessed." Despite being offered help and the opportunity to relinquish the animals voluntarily, Cummines refused. The Scottish SPCA then removed the animals for their welfare. Alongside her sentence, Cummines was given a community payback order with supervision for one year. A spokesperson for the Scottish SPCA added: "We welcome the court's decision today. No animal should be forced to live in such filth and fear. This outcome sends a clear message that neglecting the welfare of animals will not be tolerated in Scotland." The Scottish SPCA encourages anyone concerned about the welfare of an animal or if they suspect signs of animal neglect to contact their confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
