A couple ordered to remove “smelly” dogs from their Perth flat have vowed to bring the pets home as soon as they are able.
Audrey Gibb and Sarah Smith were ordered to remove the pack of dogs by a court after their neighbours raised Annoying Creatures action against them.
Perth’s Justice of the Peace Court was told that the couple were causing a nuisance to nearby residents by keeping five dogs in a two-bedroom flat at 66 Dunsinane Drive in Perth.
Anna Kasperowicz and Krzysztof Papiez, who live at number 64 and have their flat up for sale, were granted an order forcing the couple to keep the dogs out of the property for a nine- month period.
Ms Gibb said the animals were well cared for and denied that the animals barked for “prolonged” periods of time.
She said: “They said my dogs make a noise 24/7, which isn’t true because I’m in all day and Sarah is in in the evenings the dogs don’t bark while there’s someone in the house.
“When they move the dogs will be coming back. My other neighbours say they’ve not heard the dogs making any noise.”
She also disputed the claim that the dogs created a strong smell.
“How can they tell what the smell is when they’ve never been in my house?” she said.
The complainers were unavailable for comment but in their petition to the court, Ms Kasperowicz and Mr Papiez stated: “The confinement of the dogs indoors creates an obnoxious smell which is particularly unpleasant during warm weather.
“The smell permeates the complainers’ home and windows must be kept closed…
“They are kept in a two-bedroom flat. They are occasionally released into the garden for toileting. They do not exercise the dogs and they are kept in restricted conditions.
“The dogs bark for significant periods of time most days, and frequently at unsociable times. As a result of prolonged barking episodes, the sleep pattern of the complainers is disrupted.
“The complainers are unable to hear the sound from the television when the dogs are barking and they cannot hear telephone communications.”
After hearing representations in the case, JP Stewart Clark found in favour of the complainants and ordered Gibb and Smith to remove the dogs from the property immediately and told them that the order would remain in place for nine months.
The court was told that if the order was breached it could be reported to the police and the couple could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.