A Scots dog walker has been cleared of cruelty after a video emerged online allegedly showing a small dog being lifted up by the neck.
The incident was caught on camera and footage showed a woman carrying the Jack Russell type dog into the garden of a house in Bonnybridge, near Falkirk.
It is unclear whether the dog was wearing a harness but the short video clip soon went viral on social media.
The Scottish SPCA launched a probe after the video was shared online last Thursday.
A branded dog walking van, belonging to Shona’s Pet Services, could be seen in the background parked on the house’s driveway.
Officers from the animal charity were sent out to the property to inspect the animals and confirmed no further action was taken.
Inspectors issued the woman with advice on how dogs should be carried in the correct manner to support full bodyweight at all times.
SSPCA chief inspector John Chisholm said: “We can confirm we attended an address where a dog had been carried in an inappropriate way after a video circulated on social media.
“We inspected the dog in the video as well as all other animals at the property.
"Every animal was in good health with no signs of injury.
"The dogs were very friendly and were not fearful or timid around their owner.
“The owner has been given clear advice that dogs should be carried in the correct manner, providing support for the full bodyweight at all times.
"We also warned that, should we receive any more reports of this nature, we may have to take further action.
“Any individual who runs a dog walking service has a responsibility to treat dogs in their care properly.
"The Scottish SPCA’s position has long been that people should require a licence to run a dog walking business.”
Shona Kerr, who owns the dog walking company of the van pictured at the scene, was approached for comment by the Daily Record.
Police Scotland said on Thursday that they had not received any reports of the incident.
