A sheriff has demanded an official animal welfare report into the current state of 11 ponies at the heart of a Mearns cruelty case.
The safe future of the animals was to have been secured before the sentencing of St Cyrus woman Donna Parley after investigators found an emaciated and lice-ridden pony in a village field last year.
Parley, 30, had sentence deferred after admitting causing the animal unnecessary suffering between January and February 2014 at the village’s Jackston Farm, when a tip-off led SSPCA inspectors to the scene and they found the listless pony with pruritic skin and a gastrointestinal infection.
The shocked welfare officers could feel the underweight animal’s spine through its matted coat and the pony was found standing in an area covered in wet excrement.
The court previously heard Parley, of Croft Place, had bought the animal in a poor condition for just £5 two months prior to the SSPCA inquiry.
Her solicitor described the offence as “an error of judgment”, but a sheriff had requested confirmation that the 11 horses owned by Parley had been re-homed prior to her being sentenced.
At Forfar yesterday, Sheriff Pino Di Emidio said letters indicating that the animals had new owners were “too inadequate” to deal with the matter.
Defence agent Lynne Sturrock said: “There were 11 animals, there are still 10 at the farm but these are being cared for by three other individuals.
“Six are with one individual and the intention is that they are moved in due course.”
The sheriff said: “This is a matter where considerably more information is required in relation to the concerns that the court has and the powers the court has to deal with this case.
“It was a particular concern to ensure that there was a report from an organisation such as the SSPCA.
“It is not appropriate for the court to proceed on the basis of the information contained in these letters, it is simply too inadequate and it is a matter of some concern that these animals are not yet moved.”
The case was continued until July 2.