Pet ban for man who starved dog

Willow was very weak and in danger of suffering organ failure

A man who starved a dog and then abandoned it has been banned from keeping pets for five years.

James Burns, 30, from Dundee, admitted causing his three-year-old German shepherd "unnecessary suffering" by failing to feed her.

Burns, pretending to be a concerned member of the public, called the Scottish SPCA in February to report a stray dog running around Raglan Street.

Inspectors found the animal extremely weak and at risk of organ failure.

'Unnecessary pain'

The dog, named Willow by SSPCA staff, weighed less than half what she should have.

The court was told that Burns had looked after the dog, which he called Akasha, until his wife fell sick then stress caused him not to feed the German shepherd.

Sheriff Hendry told Burns: "When people take responsibility for the care of domestic animals, that's what they are supposed to do.

"I accept you did care for it for some time but it is clear that it underwent unnecessary pain and suffering."

Burns was also fined £200