Top News

A bungling shop assistant caused a pet and its owner considerable upset when the dog's blood spurted across a grimy "surgery" as she executed an unlawful veterinary act. Coral Abel, 25, instilled fear in a golden retriever presented for artificial insemination - an operation that is illicit for non-veterinarians to perform.

The SSPCA was alerted to the underhanded activities at K9 Fertility in Aberdeen, where illicit veterinary services were being offered by unlicensed individuals. SSPCA's Special Investigations Unit condemned the appalling conditions discovered, including dog fur from grooming procedures, which posed serious contamination hazards.

Zara, the retriever's owner, recounted to officials how Abel woefully mishandled an illegitimate attempt to extract an intravenous blood sample from the animal, failing to locate the vein, reports the . An SSPCA representative disclosed: "While Abel was taking the intravenous blood sample, she did not wear gloves and carried out the procedure on the floor which was particularly dirty, covered in dog hair and was described by the witness as being very unhygienic.

"Abel could not find the vein in the dog's foreleg and as a result blood sprayed everywhere as well as pools of blood on the floor. The situation reached a point of distress as it became obvious to the pet owner that Abel lacked the skill and confidence necessary to draw the blood specimen. The dog's owner was disturbed by the number of attempts and feared for the welfare and injury to her beloved pet."

Police discovered a clinic illicitly using a progesterone testing machine, intended for vet-only use, to gauge fertility in female dogs for artificial insemination timing. The spokesperson disclosed: "Zara's fertility levels registered as being too high and the AI should not have been carried out.

"The witness was feeling distressed and panicked at seeing and hearing her dog in pain and the entire process was a huge ordeal for herself and Zara." An SIU officer commented: "The surfaces of the worktops were dirty and unhygienic, the floor was covered in dog hair, grime and dirt and were a real cause for concern.

"The unclean, unhygienic environment was the potential for spread of disease and a real risk of introducing bacterial infection into bitches who are there for the purposes of AI." Bain and Abel admitted in Aberdeen Sheriff Court to repeatedly trying to take intravenous blood samples without the necessary qualifications or supervision, inflicting distress, pain, and suffering on the dog.

They even attempted several internal artificial insemination procedures unlawfully. On March 21 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Bain was meted a £900 fine and slapped with a prohibition on providing services for animals for five years as part of his sentencing. Abel was handed down sentencing at the same court on February 21, receiving a Community Payback Order mandating 100 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months. Aberdeen K9 Ltd, operated by Bain, had a not guilty plea accepted on its behalf.

The SSPCA expressed its frustration about the light sentences awarded. The organisation's spokesperson lamented: "We are disappointed with the sentencing as there were animal welfare concerns here." Following the prohibition imposed on Bain, he proceeded to sell the clinic to a fresh proprietor. The new owners declared: "We have no connection to the previous ownership." They assured further: "Our services are all compliant with UK law and we are in regular contact with DEFRA to ensure that is the case."