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Daily Record
23-06-2025
- Daily Record
Injured hedgehog, underweight snake and several dogs found in horrific conditions
"The garden was covered in dog faeces and alongside the wall of the house were numerous black bin bags full of household waste and dog faeces." An Inverness man has been banned from owning animals for four years after a court heard how he kept multiple dogs in horrific conditions and failed to seek vital veterinary care for a hedgehog suffering from a painful eye injury. Scott Trist, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court on Thursday, June 19, where he pled guilty to a series of animal welfare offences. Alongside the ban, he was sentenced to 210 hours of unpaid community service. During a visit to the property last year, Scottish SPCA inspectors found a six-month-old puppy, named Sadie, so frightened she was desperately attempting to hide under a cabinet inside her pen. Officers also discovered several other dogs, including a German Shepherd-type, a Dogue de Bordeaux cross, and a Presa Canario, all living in disgraceful conditions. The floor was smeared with dog excrement, and the rear garden was littered with faeces and overflowing bin bags filled with household and animal waste. Trist initially refused inspectors entry, but a warrant was later obtained to access the property. Upstairs in the home, a seven-foot-long boa constrictor was discovered underweight in a dirty tank strewn with dead, uneaten chicks. Another tank housed an African pygmy hedgehog, who had no access to heating, lighting or food. The hedgehog was found with a severely inflamed eye and a lump on its leg, injuries that had gone untreated. Scottish SPCA inspector involved in the investigation said: 'In April 2024, whilst conducting general duties, we attended an address in Inverness following a complaint to our Animal Helpline. The report raised serious concerns about the living conditions for the dogs at the property, including a large amount of faeces in the rear garden. 'Scott Trist identified himself as the tenant of the property and owner of the dogs refused to let us enter or inspect the rear garden. He reported having several dogs inside the house and mentioned the presence of two boa constrictors. 'Following continued refusal to cooperate, we obtained a warrant to enter the premises. What we found inside was shocking – multiple dogs were living in filth and a terrified puppy trying to hide. 'From outside the conservatory, three dogs were clearly visible to all in attendance. These included a female German Shepherd type, a female Dogue de Bordeaux cross, and a male Presa Canario type. 'Upon entering the living room, we were met with overwhelming evidence of neglect. The floor was heavily soiled with dog excrement, and a section of the room had been fenced off, forming a pen that was saturated with faeces and urine. Within this pen was a young female crossbreed dog, around six months old. The puppy was visibly distressed, cowering in fear and attempting to squeeze under a cabinet to hide. 'The garden was covered in dog faeces and alongside the wall of the house were numerous black bin bags full of household waste and dog faeces. 'Upstairs, we found a small bedroom containing multiple reptile tanks. While most of the enclosures were empty, one large vivarium housed a boa constrictor measuring approximately seven feet in length. The snake was visibly underweight, and the enclosure was strewn with numerous dead, uneaten chicks. 'Another vivarium containing an African pygmy hedgehog, lacked any form of heating or lighting, and no food was available inside. The hedgehog had a visibly inflamed injury to her right eye and a noticeable lump on her front right leg. 'All animals were removed from the property under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. 'This case highlights the severe consequences of neglect and the suffering that animals endure when people fail to meet even the most basic standards of care. We are relieved these animals are now safe and are now in the homes they deserve.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
STV News
23-06-2025
- STV News
Four dogs, hedgehog and snake found in 'shocking' house covered in faeces
A man who kept four dogs, a hedgehog, and a snake in 'shocking conditions' in his home has been banned from owning pets for four years. Scott Trist, from Inverness, pled guilty to failing to provide veterinary assessment and treatment for a hedgehog suffering from an obvious and painful eye condition. Investigators from the Scottish SPCA attended Trist's home in Whitebridge following a complaint to their helpline raising concerns about living conditions for dogs at the property, including a large amount of faeces in the rear garden. Trist refused to let officers enter or inspect the garden before a warrant was issued. Seven animals were rescued from 'almost inconceivable' conditions surrounded by faeces and urine at Trist's home in Whitebridge, on April 26 last year. Three dogs, a female German Shepherd cross, a female Dogue de Bordeaux cross, and a male Presa Canario type, were found living on a floor heavily soiled with dog excrement. SSPCA Hedgehog found by SSPCA inspectors A section of the room had been fenced off, forming a pen saturated with feces and urine, and a six-month-old female crossbreed puppy was discovered so frightened she was attempting to hide under a cabinet. A visibly underfed seven-foot boa constrictor was found in Trist's dog faeces-covered home, in an enclosure strewn with numerous dead, uneaten chicks. Officers also discovered an African pygmy hedgehog in a vivarium that lacked any form of heating or lighting, with no food inside. The animal had a visibly inflamed injury to her right eye and a noticeable lump on her front right leg. Trist was sentenced at Inverness Sheriff Court on Thursday, where he was given a four-year disqualification from owning or keeping animals and was also sentenced to 210 hours of unpaid community service. An SSPCA inspector report added: 'Upon entering the living room, we were met with overwhelming evidence of neglect. 'The garden was covered in dog faeces, and alongside the wall of the house were numerous black bin bags full of household waste and dog faeces. 'Upstairs, we found a small bedroom containing multiple reptile tanks. While most of the enclosures were empty, one large vivarium housed a boa constrictor measuring approximately seven feet in length. The snake was visibly underweight, and the enclosure was strewn with numerous dead, uneaten chicks. 'All animals were removed from the property under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. 'This case highlights the severe consequences of neglect and the suffering that animals endure when people fail to meet even the most basic standards of care. We are relieved these animals are now safe and are now in the homes they deserve.' If you are concerned about the welfare of an animal, please contact the Scottish SPCA 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
