Most dog owners leave their pet pooches in kennels for a few days or weeks when they go on holiday.
But one man ditched his dogs at Happas Canine Centre near Forfar in 2018 – and has failed to return to collect them.
The owner, who hails from Forfar, has not paid a penny for the three dogs’ keep since he dropped them off on Christmas Eve 2018.
Two of the dogs have health issues and need regular trips to the vet and expensive medication.
Carron Jenkins, who runs the centre, has been forced to pick up the bill and struggles to understand how the owner could abandon his pets.
“He arrived with his three dogs on December 24 2018 and told us he was leaving them with us for a few weeks,” she said.
“He said he would pay when he picked them up, which was fine as he had put the dogs in before and we trusted him.
“After a few weeks, we hadn’t heard from him and we tried to contact him on his mobile and email.
“Eventually, he told us he was away to sea and would transfer money to us but, of course, this never happened – there was always an excuse.”
Carron received emails supposedly relating to the customer telling her how much he loved his dogs but that he was away on business.
However, she claims he has been seen in and around Forfar by several people.
“He has never made an attempt to see his dogs at all,” said Carron.
“We’ve sent letters to the address on the contract but they were all sent back.”
When Carron contacted the Scottish SSPCA she was told that, because the dogs were being cared for, there was nothing the animal rescue charity could do to help.
The man has now stopped communicating with Carron and she does not know what to do.
The three dogs are Zara, an eight-year-old Chinese Crested, Malti, a 13-year-old cross breed, and Buttons, an eight-year-old Chihuahua.
Carron said: “Malti and Buttons are both on medication and I’ve had to take them to the vet numerous times.
“These wee dogs need a home together or they can stay with us but we desperately need funding for their food, medication, board and any future vet bills.
“Their place isn’t in a kennel but in a home.”
Anyone interested in rehoming the dogs can contact Happas Canine Centre but Carron is adamant the trio must stay together.
Meanwhile, the centre has started a fundraiser for the dogs via Paypal.
For more details, see its Facebook page.
gritchie@thecourier.co.uk
