A Coatbridge woman has been banned from keeping animals for twenty years after she admitted neglecting her young dog.

Stacey Moran, 27, of Sidlaw Court, was sentenced at Airdrie Sheriff Court on Wednesday, February 19.

Moran pled guilty to causing her one year old crossbred dog Sasha unnecessary suffering by failing to provide adequate nutrition and veterinary attention, contrary to section 19 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

Commenting on the investigation and court case, Inspector Sam MacDonald, said: "We were called to Moran's property by the local housing department following concerns for animals which were believed to have been abandoned inside.

"On entry we found Sasha shut in a dirty room covered in rubbish and faeces. There was no food or water available for her and she was extremely underweight with her spine and ribs easy to feel through her long, fluffy coat.

"I immediately took Sasha to a vet for examination and she was found to weigh only 4.5kgs when a dog of her size should be around 7kgs. She was given a body score of 1.5, with one being emaciated and five being obese."

She said: "Shockingly, the vet found evidence that Sasha had been eating her own faeces, which demonstrates how desperately hungry she was.

"Moran stated that she had been on holiday for three days and that a family member had been left responsible for feeding her dog but it was clear that Sasha's condition had developed over a much longer period of time.

"Thankfully, Sasha made a full recovery in our care, gaining 2.35kg through simple, adequate feeding and we were delighted to find her a loving new home with a responsible owner.

"We are pleased Moran received a twenty year ban for the suffering she caused Sasha. She gave no reasonable explanation for Sasha's condition and therefore we considered this to be a case of gross neglect."