Last updated at 12:37, Monday, 21 January 2013

A woman has been banned by a court from keeping animals for five years after hearing that her pet cat had been found so emaciated that it died on the way to a vet.

The tortoiseshell female cat was found, unable to stand, on a roadway in Langholm by a staff member of a nearby school who called in SSPCA officials.

Claire Reid, 31, admitted failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of the cat at her home at the time at Meikleholmside, Langholm, between April and June last year.

She admitted failing to provide adequate treatment including pain relief and allowing it to become emaciated and die.

At Dumfries Sheriff Court, solicitor Liz Dougan said Reid, now living at McCormack Gardens in Stranraer, had had the pet for eight years and it was in the habit of disappearing for two or three days at a time.

In April last year she thought it had swallowed hair balls and bought a remedy at a supermarket and also changed its diet, but the animal it continued to lose weight.

She realised now that she should have called in a vet.

She also had personal problems at the time, the court was told.

Reid was also fined £200 in addition to the ban.

First published at 11:59, Monday, 21 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk