Moray Courts: Bearded dragon owner receives ban following reptile's death
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After a bearded dragon had to put down by a vet a Moray man has been banned for keeping any type of animal for a year
A relative of Gary Ross contacted the SSPCA after going round to his former house in Dufftown on January 22 last year and finding the reptile in an emaciated state.
The animal welfare service was informed that the creature couldn't keep its eyes open and wouldn't eat unless food was placed directly in its mouth.
An SSPCA inspector suggested putting the bearded dragon into warm water to increase its body temperature.
Procurator Fiscal Victoria Silver told Elgin Sheriff Court that when a local vet first saw the reptile they thought it was already dead.
A decision was reached that nothing could be done to help the creature and it was put down on welfare grounds.
The court heard that Ross, who's aged 34, had been taken in custody on an unrelated matter the day before.
However, it was stated that the neglect has gone on for much longer than a couple of days.
Ross, who now lives in Dean Terrace, Lossiemouth, pleaded guilty to a charge of animal neglect between December 22, 2021 and the same day the following month.
He was ordered to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work for the community and barred from keeping or obtaining any animals for the next 12 months.
