A woman from Stevenston who allowed her dog to starve to death over a period of two months has been handed a community sentence and a five-year animal ownership ban at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.
Nicola Clarke appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, following an investigation by the Scottish SPCA.
The court was told that the neglect was uncovered in December 2024 after the body of a spaniel-type dog named Roxy was brought to a veterinary practice. Scottish SPCA inspectors were alerted after clinical examinations revealed the animal was severely emaciated, weighing just 6.4kg.
A post-mortem examination established that the primary cause of death was acute starvation. Pathologists concluded that Roxy had been deprived of all food for at least 48 to 72 hours prior to her death, with evidence indicating that she had endured extreme distress and physical deterioration for at least two months. A veterinarian stated that the dog had likely been deceased for multiple days before Clarke noticed or presented the body.
Following the initial findings, inspectors attended Clarke’s residential address in Stevenston, where they located a second animal: a female Newfoundland cross named Lexi. The dog was found to be significantly underweight at 23.2kg, roughly seven kilograms below her normal body condition weight, with heavy matting across her coat and tail. During questioning at the scene, Clarke admitted that she had no pet food in the house and had not fed the dog that day.
Inspectors immediately seized Lexi and transferred her to the Scottish SPCA’s Glasgow Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre for rehabilitation. Veterinary care and nutritional support allowed the animal to make a full recovery, and she was subsequently placed with a new owner.
Scottish SPCA officials described the conditions as “gross neglect,” noting that while Lexi was rescued before sustaining irreversible physical damage, Roxy had been entirely failed by her owner.
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Clarke pleaded guilty to:
Causing unnecessary suffering to animals under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006
The sheriff imposed a Community Payback Order as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence. Under the conditions of the disposal, Clarke must complete 160 hours of unpaid work within the community and remain under the supervision of the local authority social work department for a period of 18 months.
Alongside the community order, the court ordered:
A disqualification order under Section 40 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, prohibiting Clarke from owning, keeping, or dealing with animals for a duration of five years
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