Injured hedgehog, underweight snake and several dogs found in horrific conditions

Daily Record

23-06-2025

"The garden was covered in dog faeces and alongside the wall of the house were numerous black bin bags full of household waste and dog faeces."
An Inverness man has been banned from owning animals for four years after a court heard how he kept multiple dogs in horrific conditions and failed to seek vital veterinary care for a hedgehog suffering from a painful eye injury.
Scott Trist, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court on Thursday, June 19, where he pled guilty to a series of animal welfare offences. Alongside the ban, he was sentenced to 210 hours of unpaid community service.
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During a visit to the property last year, Scottish SPCA inspectors found a six-month-old puppy, named Sadie, so frightened she was desperately attempting to hide under a cabinet inside her pen. Officers also discovered several other dogs, including a German Shepherd-type, a Dogue de Bordeaux cross, and a Presa Canario, all living in disgraceful conditions.
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The floor was smeared with dog excrement, and the rear garden was littered with faeces and overflowing bin bags filled with household and animal waste. Trist initially refused inspectors entry, but a warrant was later obtained to access the property.
Upstairs in the home, a seven-foot-long boa constrictor was discovered underweight in a dirty tank strewn with dead, uneaten chicks. Another tank housed an African pygmy hedgehog, who had no access to heating, lighting or food. The hedgehog was found with a severely inflamed eye and a lump on its leg, injuries that had gone untreated.
Scottish SPCA inspector involved in the investigation said: 'In April 2024, whilst conducting general duties, we attended an address in Inverness following a complaint to our Animal Helpline. The report raised serious concerns about the living conditions for the dogs at the property, including a large amount of faeces in the rear garden.
'Scott Trist identified himself as the tenant of the property and owner of the dogs refused to let us enter or inspect the rear garden. He reported having several dogs inside the house and mentioned the presence of two boa constrictors. 'Following continued refusal to cooperate, we obtained a warrant to enter the premises. What we found inside was shocking – multiple dogs were living in filth and a terrified puppy trying to hide.
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'From outside the conservatory, three dogs were clearly visible to all in attendance. These included a female German Shepherd type, a female Dogue de Bordeaux cross, and a male Presa Canario type.
'Upon entering the living room, we were met with overwhelming evidence of neglect. The floor was heavily soiled with dog excrement, and a section of the room had been fenced off, forming a pen that was saturated with faeces and urine. Within this pen was a young female crossbreed dog, around six months old. The puppy was visibly distressed, cowering in fear and attempting to squeeze under a cabinet to hide.
'The garden was covered in dog faeces and alongside the wall of the house were numerous black bin bags full of household waste and dog faeces.
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'Upstairs, we found a small bedroom containing multiple reptile tanks. While most of the enclosures were empty, one large vivarium housed a boa constrictor measuring approximately seven feet in length. The snake was visibly underweight, and the enclosure was strewn with numerous dead, uneaten chicks.
'Another vivarium containing an African pygmy hedgehog, lacked any form of heating or lighting, and no food was available inside. The hedgehog had a visibly inflamed injury to her right eye and a noticeable lump on her front right leg.
'All animals were removed from the property under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
'This case highlights the severe consequences of neglect and the suffering that animals endure when people fail to meet even the most basic standards of care. We are relieved these animals are now safe and are now in the homes they deserve.'
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