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| Woman starved Alsatian to death | Woman starved Alsatian to death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman who starved her dog to death has been told she could be disqualified from keeping animals. | A woman who starved her dog to death has been told she could be disqualified from keeping animals. |
| Andrea Smiley, 28, admitted neglecting her Alsatian, Snowy, at her former home in Paisley's Ferguslie Park last year. | Andrea Smiley, 28, admitted neglecting her Alsatian, Snowy, at her former home in Paisley's Ferguslie Park last year. |
| Sentence was deferred at Paisley Sheriff Court on Thursday after it emerged she had not met social workers as instructed. | Sentence was deferred at Paisley Sheriff Court on Thursday after it emerged she had not met social workers as instructed. |
| It was described by the Scottish SPCA as one of the most distressing cases they had ever had to deal with. | It was described by the Scottish SPCA as one of the most distressing cases they had ever had to deal with. |
| An earlier hearing heard how the dog had lost two-thirds of its body weight when its rotting corpse was found. | An earlier hearing heard how the dog had lost two-thirds of its body weight when its rotting corpse was found. |
| Police were called to Smiley's ground floor flat on 1 October, 2007, after concerned neighbours reported a foul stench coming from the property. | Police were called to Smiley's ground floor flat on 1 October, 2007, after concerned neighbours reported a foul stench coming from the property. |
| Snowy was lying in the flat waiting for her owner to save her. She suffered a terrible death SSPCA spokeswoman | Snowy was lying in the flat waiting for her owner to save her. She suffered a terrible death SSPCA spokeswoman |
| They found the badly-emaciated dog had been shut in a room with string and wool tied around the door to keep it from escaping. | They found the badly-emaciated dog had been shut in a room with string and wool tied around the door to keep it from escaping. |
| The floor was covered in faeces and it had lain dead for up to 10 days. | The floor was covered in faeces and it had lain dead for up to 10 days. |
| A veterinary examination later revealed that the animal had not been fed or given water. | A veterinary examination later revealed that the animal had not been fed or given water. |
| As it wasted away, in a desperate bid to get some moisture, it had been licking condensation from the window. | As it wasted away, in a desperate bid to get some moisture, it had been licking condensation from the window. |
| The post-mortem examination showed it had no body fat, and no traces of food in its stomach or intestines. | The post-mortem examination showed it had no body fat, and no traces of food in its stomach or intestines. |
| Smiley had previously pleaded guilty to causing her pet unnecessary suffering by failing to provide adequate food and water. | Smiley had previously pleaded guilty to causing her pet unnecessary suffering by failing to provide adequate food and water. |
| An SPCA officer describes how the dog died | An SPCA officer describes how the dog died |
| When she returned to court on Thursday it emerged that she had not turned up to meet social workers for reports to be compiled. | When she returned to court on Thursday it emerged that she had not turned up to meet social workers for reports to be compiled. |
| A letter was produced from her doctor outlining various health problems, including depression. | A letter was produced from her doctor outlining various health problems, including depression. |
| A Scottish SPCA spokeswoman said: "This is one of the most distressing cases Scottish SPCA Inspectors have dealt with as the dog suffered for a considerable time before she died. | A Scottish SPCA spokeswoman said: "This is one of the most distressing cases Scottish SPCA Inspectors have dealt with as the dog suffered for a considerable time before she died. |
| "Snowy had tried so hard to live. There were lick marks on the window where she had attempted to obtain some moisture from the condensation on the glass. | "Snowy had tried so hard to live. There were lick marks on the window where she had attempted to obtain some moisture from the condensation on the glass. |
| "Andrea Smiley was living a short walk away and knew her dog was slowly starving to death. Snowy was lying in the flat waiting for her owner to save her. She suffered a terrible death." | "Andrea Smiley was living a short walk away and knew her dog was slowly starving to death. Snowy was lying in the flat waiting for her owner to save her. She suffered a terrible death." |
| Sheriff Kavanagh said that in the circumstances, he would require a psychological and psychiatric assessment in addition to the reports previously ordered. | Sheriff Kavanagh said that in the circumstances, he would require a psychological and psychiatric assessment in addition to the reports previously ordered. |
| He said he would have to look at the possibility of disqualifying Smiley from keeping animals when she returned for sentence. | He said he would have to look at the possibility of disqualifying Smiley from keeping animals when she returned for sentence. |
| Under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, Scottish Courts can impose a prison sentence of up to one year; a fine of up to £20,000 and a life ban on keeping animals. |