A Fife woman who kept dogs in squalid conditions has been sentenced at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
Helen Burt, 27, was placed on a community payback order for failing to meet the basic needs of three Staffordshire bull terriers.
Animal welfare officers from the Scottish SPCA found the dogs at a filthy home in Rosyth, where they were surrounded by urine, faeces and household debris.
Now court proceedings have been completed, the organisation can start the process of finding new homes for the three dogs.
Burt previously pled guilty to a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
When she returned to court for sentencing on Wednesday, a sheriff imposed a community payback order with a requirement of 100 hours of unpaid work and six months of supervision.
She was banned from keeping animals for five years.
Scottish SPCA inspector Sarah Gregory said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this case, as it was clear that Burt was not able to provide these dogs with even the most basic of care.
“We welcome the five year ban given to Burt and hope she will seriously consider her ability to care for any other animals in the future.”
Burt failed to provide the dogs, named Codi, Mali and Shakira, with a suitable environment and failed to meet their needs at an address in Elder Place between January 11 and 25 last year.
The charge stated that her treatment of the dogs would have caused them psychological suffering and put them at risk of injury and disease.
Burt failed to provide adequate water and ventilation for the animals, left them in an unhygienic environment and failed to allow them to exhibit normal behaviour. She also neglected to take the dogs outside to defecate or urinate.
The animals were exposed to debris including open tin cans and broken furniture, which could have caused injury.
Ms Gregory said: “The living environment for these animals was cramped and filthy. The entire property was uninhabitable and appeared to have been used as a kennel rather than a home.
“The smell was an overwhelming stench of ammonia, dirt and faeces that made your eyes water. Faeces was trodden in to the floor with fresh matter on top.
“There was litter and broken furniture throughout the property.”
Shakira and Mali, who are both female, were found in a cage in the living room, with no bedding or resting area.
The Scottish SPCA said all of the dogs appeared in good body condition, despite the living environment and high risk of disease due to the contamination in the house.
“Not allowing the dogs adequate opportunities to toilet outside the house meant they would be caused stress and potential mental suffering by having to toilet in the same area as they were confined to for sleeping and eating,” Ms Gregory added.
