A callous Scots woman has been banned from keeping dogs after selling seriously sick pooches to unsuspecting animal lovers.
Stacey McPhee was hit with a three-year ban after pleading guilty to animal neglect at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
A Scottish SSPCA probe found that unsuspecting victims of the 23-year-old all bought puppies suffering from life threatening diseases.
Three pups were sold, and after a vet examination were all found to have not been vaccinated, leading to them contracting potentially life-threatening diseases.
Male cockapoo Brodie, female cavalier King Charles' Roxy and male King Charles' Alfredo were all found to have giardia which is stomach bug caused by a tiny parasite.
It can be lethal if left untreated.
All of the pups showed symptoms of the disease, such as bloody diarrhoea, while Alfredo and Brodie had heart murmurs.
Poor Roxy also had aspiration pneumonia which was caused by giardia.
Numerous online adverts were linked back to McPhee as the SSPCA special investigation unit began gathering evidence in December 2019.
Victim accounts were used as evidence in the court case against her.
McPhee, from Ellon in Aberdeenshire, has been banned from keeping dogs for three years and handed six months of supervision.
An undercover inspector from the Scottish SPCA’s special investigations unit said: “We found evidence McPhee has sold many sick or dying puppies to unsuspecting members of the public.
"She was selling these pups from her address and all of the people who bought from her spotted there was something wrong right away and immediately sought veterinary treatment.
“We welcome the sentence and the three-year ban is an ideal disruption tactic for someone such as McPhee who was a prolific offender and caused immeasurable heartbreak to people who bought sick and dying animals from her.
"We would urge members of the public not to buy from individuals like McPhee as no thought is given to the welfare of the animal; only how much money can be made.
“We will continue to do all we can to stop the low-welfare puppy trade, including through leading Operation Delphin, a multi-agency taskforce set up to disrupt the industry.”
McPhee pleaded guilty to failing to provide veterinary care to three puppies under Section 19 (2) (a) & (b) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
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