THE HEAD OF the SSPCA in Dundee last night said she was disappointed a man who maltreated a German Shepherd —leaving the dog at “death’s door”—had escaped a custodial sentence.

James Burns (30), of Albert Street, was yesterday disqualified from keeping any animal for five years and fined £200, for what staff at the Dundee Animal Welfare Centre called one of the worst cases of cruelty they had witnessed.

When the severely-emaciated dog was found in the city’s Raglan Street in February, she was less than half her healthy body weight and had clearly been subjected to prolonged mistreatment.

The three-year-old was quickly admitted to the SSPCA shelter in Petterden, where she was named Willow by staff, who made an appeal for information through The Courier.

The public came forward in droves and eventually it became clear to investigators that Burns, the man who initially alerted the SSPCA, was in fact the dog’s owner.

He was charged with maltreating the animal and sentenced by Sheriff Maxwell Hendry at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday.

Sharon Comrie, manager of the Dundee Animal Welfare Centre, said last night the sentence was too lenient.

She added, “I’m glad that at least it wasn’t community service but still disappointed it wasn’t a higher sentence—£200 in this day and age is hardly much of a deterrent.

“I would really have hoped he would have received a custodial sentence because the dog was in a really bad condition. She was at death’s door.

“I have been doing this job for 34 years and it is definitely in the top 10 worst animal cruelty cases I have seen in my time here.

“People who had seen the story about Willow have been in contact with us throughout, checking up on how she is doing, and we have had a lot of phone calls today from people who also thought the sentence was too lenient.”

Burns had admitted through a solicitor that between January 1 and February 12 at his home, being responsible for the dog, he caused it unnecessary suffering by failing to provide it with adequate food and failed to seek prompt veterinary care, whereby the dog became emaciated.

The case had been continued until yesterday for Burns to appear in person.

The dog, called Akasha by Burns, was taken to the SSPCA centre at Petterden, where it was found to have suffered prolonged neglect and been denied nourishment and weighed only 42% of its correct weight.

Yesterday defence solicitor Grant Bruce, said the dog had been properly looked after for several years and it was only latterly, when Burns was beset by personal problems, that the neglect began.

He said Burns was not a wicked man and that he had been subjected to physical assault and threats due to the court case.

He said that Burns lived with his partner and 10-month-old baby and worked.

He had had the dog for three-and-a-half years and it was treated well until the last few months, when Burns’ life was turned upside down.

His wife had health problems and had her appendix removed before a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease was made.

She had been in hospital and since children were not allowed in the ward he had to arrange babysitters and the strain and pressure of the circumstances led to him not looking after the dog properly.

Mr Bruce said it had come about as a result of Burns trying to look after a young child and his sick wife.

The sheriff told Burns that when people care for domestic animals, they are supposed to take responsibility.

He accepted that Burns had looked after the dog for a number of years.

Willow is said to be making good progress at Petterden and now weighs 22.8 kilos, compared to 11 kilos when she was first admitted.