A sheriff has stopped short of imposing an animal-keeping ban on a woman found with a lice-ridden and emaciated pony among her 11 pets.
Donna Parley had bought the animal in a poor state for just £5 with the intention of nursing it back to full health.
But the 31-year-old found she could not afford the veterinary treatment the pony needed.
When Scottish SPCA inspectors visited Jackston Farm at St Cyrus, where it was among 11 horses kept by Parley, they found it cowering and listless among wet excrement.
The welfare officers discovered the animal had pruritic skin and a gastrointestinal infection.
They were also able to clearly feel the underweight animal’s spine through its matted coat.
Earlier this year, Parley, of Croft Place, St Cyrus, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing the animal unnecessary suffering. The offence took place between January and February 2014 at the farm in the Mearns village.
Sentencing had been delayed on a number of occasions after the judge in the case, Sheriff Pino Di Emidio, ordered that all 11 of the horses owned by Parley be re-homed.
There was a final one-week delay in the case at the beginning of this month.
But on Thursday defence solicitor Lynne Sturrock told Forfar Sheriff Court that all of the animals were now no longer at St Cyrus.
The court heard 10 of the ponies were together in a north east home and another had been placed with a different owner elsewhere.
“It was somewhat difficult to persuade people to take on such a large number of animals, but the SSPCA are satisfied that the two individuals are able to care for them in an appropriate way,” said Ms Sturrock.
“The SSPCA have been extremely helpful in this case, and have kept in touch with a high level of work done in placing these animals with new owners.“
She added: “My client describes herself as an animal lover and other than this matter she has only had one road traffic conviction.
“This has caused her some anxiety. Being in court in relation to the care of animals is something that causes her great upset.
“It is not her intention to undertake the care of any other animals, apart from her two domestic cats,” Ms Sturrock said.
Sheriff Di Emidio said although Parley pleaded guilty to an offence involving just one animal it had become clear during mitigation that there was a “broader practical problem” over the accused’s ability to properly care for all of the horses she had.
He told Parley: “I am satisfied you had these animals with good intentions, but you were not in a position to properly look after them if they became ill and required substantial veterinary bills.
“I am pleased to have it reported that all the ponies have now been moved and I give you credit for that.”
But he made it clear that if Parley was to appear back in court on a similar matter that would have a bearing on sentencing. He fined her £300.