Family reported for cruelty to dummy animal

An ornamental garden dog sparked an animal cruelty probe — after it was mistaken for a neglected pooch. A passer-by called the SSPCA after spotting the life-size “whippet” tied to a fence with an empty food bowl and a cigarette stuck in its mouth.

But incredibly, they failed to notice the brown mutt was actually a statue, and an SSPCA inspector was sent round to owner Anne Wright’s house to probe the neglect allegations.

Anne, 45, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, said: “The ornament, which I call Priscilla, looks realistic, but this is hilarious. I can’t believe someone actually thought I’d abandoned a real dog. I don’t even have a real dog. I have a cat called Elvis.”



“My son Gary found a card from the SSPCA behind our door last Friday morning. It turns out someone had reported me for leaving a dog in my garden without food or shelter.” Gary, 24 — who tied the pooch to the garden fence — added: “At first, I thought someone was at it. Then I phoned the SSPCA and was told an Inspector had been out.

“The woman took my details and I told her we don’t have a dog — we have an ornament that sits outside in the garden with a broken ear and a food bowl. She burst out laughing.”

Anne bought the £17 stone statue from a TV shopping channel three years ago. It originally sat under the window in her living room, but she moved it outside three months ago when its ear broke off. SSPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “We investigate all allegations of cruelty.”