Aberdeenshire men banned from keeping animals after dogs found living among drug paraphernalia

Two men have been banned from keeping animals for ten years after four dogs were found to be living among empty syringes and other drug paraphernalia at their Aberdeenshire home.

Steven Hood and William Lovegrove were found guilty of animal welfare offences at Peterhead Sheriff Court.

Concerns were initially raised about the dogs’ welfare via the Scottish SPCA’s helpline, and an inspector visited their property in April 2025.

Hood and Lovegrove had previously been advised on the steps required to provide a safe, clean and suitable environment for the pets.

The charity said the pair “ignored all advice”, with the living conditions worsening after its first visit.

Both men were also intoxicated when the inspector arrived at their home.

The inspector said: “The house was in a very poor state, strewn with rubbish, empty syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

“The floors were soiled, and the smell within the house was terrible.

“It was extremely disappointing and frustrating to see that no effort had been made to clean the property since we had given them guidance.

“They were more than knowledgeable on how to ensure the needs of their dogs are met but deliberately chose not to.”

The dogs has no access to food or water at the property, with their cages being in an extremely poor state.

There was a hole in the floor of one crate, which posed a risk of injury to the dogs.

The Scottish SPCA inspector added: “The flooring, walls and doors were chewed, showing the dogs were highly stressed and frustrated. There were also claw marks on the door showing the dogs had been trying to get out of the house.

“The hygiene in this property was not fit for humans or animals, and the owners were not in a fit state to be responsible for their dogs.

“It was then decided it was in the best interest to remove the four dogs from the property and taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA for further care and treatment.”

Hood and Lovegrove were handed ten-year bans at Peterhead Sheriff Court, with both men also receiving one-year community payback orders.

Following the hearing, the inspector said: “We are pleased with the sheriff’s decision.

“They were extremely irresponsible and had complete disregard for their animals’ welfare.

“This sentencing will ensure that no animal will be allowed to live in such horrible conditions again.

“However, while a ban is the only way to ensure that this does not happen again to any animal, there is currently no system to monitor disqualification orders or track repeat offenders, which will significantly reducing the power of this sentencing.

“That’s why we’re calling for the creation of a National Animal Offenders Register, so individuals like Hood and Lovegrove cannot go on to hurt other animals undetected.

“This is a key step in preventing future harm and ensuring Scotland becomes the best place in the world for an animal to call home.”