THE SSPCA animal charity yesterday said it was “very disappointed” to learn that a Dundee man had been acquitted in court of selling dogs from his house without a licence.

Robert Forbes Bain Ross (51), Ettrick Crescent, denied that on June 28 last year at his home, he kept a pet shop in that he offered pets for sale from premises not licensed for that purpose. The prosecution was brought under the Pet Animals Act 1951.

Two SSPCA officers told the court they had received anonymous information that Ross was offering Rottweiler puppies with docked tails for sale.

The advert had been in a newspaper and they were concerned since it had been illegal since April 2007 to dock dogs’ tails.

They had gone to Ross’s house and spoken to him and found three pups in a pen at the back of the house. Their tails were docked and Ross said he had brought the dogs up from Leeds.

Solicitor William G. Boyle submitted there was no case to answer since the accused had not been properly cautioned.

Sheriff Duff upheld the submission and acquitted Ross. He said that the way the SSPCA officers gave their evidence was “very vague” and he was far from satisfied that they explained precisely what they were doing there.

Responding to the sheriff’s decision, the SSPCA said that, as far as they were concerned, the charges were made properly but it appeared that Mr Ross had walked free on a technicality.

A spokeswoman said, “We’re very disappointed, obviously, but we will look at the technical issues involved.