01-08-2025
Dog sitter filmed dragging hounds by necks banned from boarding animals
Kiki Sutherland, who is in her 60s, was filmed hauling the pets around a garden at a house in Monymusk in a horrifying clip.
A rogue dog sitter has been banned from boarding animals at her property in Aberdeenshire after a disturbing video of her dragging dogs by their necks emerged online.
Kiki Sutherland, who is in her 60s, was filmed hauling the pets around a garden at a house in Monymusk in the horrifying clip. In the footage, which was revealed by the Record earlier this week, Sutherland could be seen marching around the garden with the scruff of a Dachshund-type dog in her fist.
She is then seen walking towards a Spaniel before grabbing it by the back of its neck, yanking it back, picking it up and throttling its loose skin. Aberdeenshire Council has been investigating the matter and have since found that Sutherland - who it is understood advertises a home boarding service for dogs - did not have a licence to look after the animals.
The council has now written a letter to Sutherland warning her that any commercial boarding of animals must cease at the premises immediately. The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), meanwhile, has confirmed it is still investigating the incident.
The Record previously spoke to the owner of the two-year-old spaniel involved in the sickening scene. Mark Lawrie said he was left "horrified" after watching the clip.
The 55-year-old said: "I was sent the clip and I was absolutely horrified watching it. She was so heavy handed with my dog, Buddy, when she didn't need to be at all.
" Buddy is the most loving and affectionate dog with the sweetest nature - he's obedient and does most things you say.
"You put your dog into the trust of someone else because you think they'll take good care of them. It makes me feel sick that someone could handle Buddy like this when he is so gentle."
On Facebook, Sutherland is the admin of a private pet group called 'Crazy Dog Crew'. Mark handed Buddy over to Sutherland for two weeks after his other dog came into season.
He claims that she is known in the area for doing dog walks and boarding, and he trusted her through word of mouth. But Mark said she offered to look after Buddy for free.
He continued: "She took Buddy as a favour for me and no money was exchanged but it obviously raises concern if this is how she is treating animals. Whether or not she takes money from others for it, I do not know, but I'm not happy with how she treated Buddy and my wife was crying after watching the clip.
"She didn't need to manhandle him like that and she knows it. He would have just followed her to wherever she was going. She didn't need to use such force."
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: 'Our investigation has concluded. A warning letter has been issued advising that any commercial boarding of animals would require a licence and that the premises does not currently hold such a licence, therefore any commercial boarding of animals must cease at the premises. Any unlicensed boarding of animals may be reported to the Fiscal.'
A spokesperson for SSPCA said: "I can confirm that this has been reported to the SSPCA and is being investigated. We are not able to provide any further comment into ongoing investigations."
