Elderly dog dumped near Strathaven on Christmas Day

Dec 29 2011 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

INVESTIGATORS were this week trying to trace the owners of a dog left for dead on a remote country road – on Christmas Day.

Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals believe the spaniel-setter cross could have been dumped to make way for a new Christmas puppy.

The elderly male dog has been named Winter by staff at the SPCA Lanarkshire re-homing centre, Bothwell Road, Hamilton, where he is being cared for by the charity’s staff.

Scottish SPCA were called out after the spaniel setter cross, aged about 10, was discovered moments after a car was spotted stopping on an unclassified road between Muirkirk and Strathaven, near the A71.

Scottish SPCA Senior Inspector Billy Linton said: “It seems the driver simply let Winter out of the car and drove away.

“Thankfully, someone in a nearby cottage saw the car stop and when they checked outside they found this poor dog in a great deal of distress.

“Whoever abandoned Winter couldn’t have cared less whether he lived or died.

“He was very lucky someone found him and called us because he could just as easily have run off or been knocked down by a car and killed.

“It was early evening, dark, cold and raining heavily when he was abandoned and he was bedraggled and extremely nervous when I arrived.

“Although he has a healed sore on his body and is slightly thin, he is in reasonable condition and has almost certainly been someone’s pet.

“Unfortunately, he isn’t microchipped and didn’t have a collar or a tag so we are appealing for information as we are keen to trace whoever was responsible for dumping him in such cruel circumstances.

“It is very sad but abandonments around this time of year are quite common and, even though it will be hard for most people to imagine, we can’t rule out the possibility that Winter’s owner decided to get rid of him to make way for a Christmas puppy given his age.”

Abandoning an animal is an offence that carries stiff penalties including up to six months in prison, a £5000 fine and a ban on keeping animals.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline in the strictest confidence on 03000 999 999.

If you are interested in rehoming an animal or wish to donate to the charity or join the Scottish SPCA, visit scottishspca.org.