Scots man who starved pet bearded dragon banned from keeping animals for one year

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A man who starved his pet bearded dragon for months has been banned from keeping animals for a year.Gary Ross, of Dufftown in Moray, failed to feed his pet lizard Coco or keep the animal warm.

It was found in a badly emaciated state by welfare workers and after a vet inspection, was put to sleep.The 35-year-old pleaded guilty at Elgin Sheriff Court on 21 December 2022 to causing the reptile unnecessary suffering through failing to provide an adequate diet and care, and was sentenced on March 16 at the same court.He was banned from keeping animals for one year and ordered to complete 90 hours of unpaid work.

Scottish SPCA chief inspector Alison Simpson said: “We became aware of concerns about a lizard in Gary Ross’s care as he had been arrested.“In the property we also discovered a bearded dragon named Coco, whose condition was quite shocking.

He was emaciated and his eyes were covered over by their nictitating membranes. His spine was visibly raised through his back and tail, his body was flat, and he was extremely lethargic.“Although Coco was clearly in need of food, he was unable to swallow and even when offered a mealworm cut into small pieces he simply held the food in his mouth.“We had immediate concerns for Coco’s well-being and called a veterinary surgery to make an emergency appointment.