A serial bride is under investigation after two seven-month-old puppies she traded for a TV were found emaciated and just days from death.
Alison Smith, who was married four times by the age of 24, swapped her plasma television to get two Staffordshire bull terriers from her stepfather, who was also her first husband.
The 31-year-old Arbroath mother has been reported to the authorities by Angus Dog Rescue, who accused her of leaving pups Snowy and Patch just a fortnight away from death.
The charity took the dogs away on Monday after Miss Smith called to ask them to deliver free dog food.
Chairman Ian Robb said the pair were around half the weight they should be and had unclipped claws, mangy coats and dog mess clinging to their paws.
He described their condition as “heartbreaking” and confirmed the matter had been reported to Angus Council and the Scottish SPCA.
“We have had problems with this family for quite a few years,” he said.
“We usually get the dogs after they have been totally ruined and are out of control. Luckily, we have got these two while they are still young and should get new homes for them within a month or so.
“They were in the worst condition of any dogs we have had in a long time. They are not pure-bred staffies who knows what else is in there.”
Miss Smith was a bridesmaid for her mother and ex-husband after forgiving them for splitting up her marriage just 10 days after the ceremony.
She has been left with a boxer/bullmastiff cross and a third staffie, understood to be from the same litter as the neglected pups, as well as some cats.
She said the two mistreated dogs seemed healthy when they arrived at her bottom-floor flat but quickly deteriorated in the three weeks she claims to have had them.
“How are you supposed to feed four dogs on £60 a week?” she said.
“I only wanted one. “I couldn’t afford to keep them so I asked if they (Angus Dog Rescue) could come and rehome them.
“We fed them but the other dogs kept taking their food. I was trying to share the tins between the dogs.”
Mr Robb’s wife, Heather, a volunteer at Angus Dog Rescue, was bitten by the boxer/bullmastiff when she went to the door on Monday and had to attend hospital.
The incident was part of a report to the Scottish SPCA, whose chief inspector Brian Cowing said: “We received a call regarding concerns for the welfare of dogs at an address in Arbroath.
“Our inquiries into this matter are ongoing.”
A council spokeswoman said: “A report was made to the council on Monday and we are investigating this matter.”