Abused wolfdogs thriving at zoo after 'cruel' start to life at hands of Scottish owner

Six wolfdogs who were abused by their former owner in Scotland are now thriving despite their “cruel” start to life.

The dogs were found by Scottish SPCA inspectors at the home of Graham McQuet in Grangemouth, each wearing an electric shock collar.

Inspectors said the dogs to be controlled rather than trained, while the property was in “extremely poor condition”.

McQuet repeatedly denied entry to inspectors to assess the full state of the property, so a warrant was obtained. But by then, the wolfdogs had been rehoused to The Little Zoo in Wiltshire.

When they arrived, they were described as “severely underweight, unsocialised and terrified”.

Four years on from their ordeal, the “Scotland Six” are thriving, with five in the care of the zoo and another living with his forever family.

His owner recently told the team at the zoo: “He goes everywhere with us, is treated so well, sleeps in our bed, and we love him to bits.”

In March 2026, McQuet was handed a five-year ban on owning and keeping animals and a £2,000 fine at Falkirk Sheriff Court.

This was for causing extreme distress to his six wolfdogs as well as his cat.

Five of the wolfdogs are housed at The Little Zoo in Wiltshire. The Little Zoo

The zoo says that their animals’ terrible start to life is behind them and their future is looking positive.

A spokesperson for The Little Zoo said: “It took months and months of patience to slowly introduce the wolfdogs to a safe and predictable routine.

“They had to learn that food no longer needed to be fought over – that it would arrive every day and that even those who had previously missed out would always have enough to eat.

“We learned their individual personalities, carefully managed their behaviours and gradually built up their trust.

“The ones who remain with us are still completely wild and live as wolves, rather than domestic dogs. They have a wonderful space alongside some of our other wolf residents and, although they are not domesticated, we have formed a very special bond with them as their care handlers.

“Almost four years on, we are incredibly proud of how far they have come and of the relationships they – and we – have formed here.

“Their terrible start in life is now behind them, and their future is a positive one. They are certainly not suitable pets for most people, but they all now have the care, understanding and environments that they need to thrive.”