Kudzai Mukahadzi, 35, of Bathgate, West Lothian, has been handed a five-year ban from keeping animals after neglecting two dogs, leaving one tied to a radiator with an embedded collar and another in a bare cage. At Livingston Sheriff Court on 28 June 2026, he was also given a Community Payback Order and ordered to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work.
Discovery of neglect
In March 2024, Mukahadzi contacted the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline seeking to rehome the two dogs, named Shadow and Bruno. When inspectors arrived at his property in West Lothian, they were led into a living room that had a foul smell described as resembling rotten flesh. Shadow, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, was tied to a radiator. Once untied, inspectors observed a large wound on her neck where her collar had become embedded in the skin. Mukahadzi became defensive when questioned, stating he had called a veterinary practice but could not afford treatment and had not sought any.
Bruno, a male American Bulldog, was found in a cage covered by a sheet. When the sheet was removed, inspectors saw a bare cage with only a plastic tray liner and no bedding. The Scottish SPCA removed both dogs from the property and transported them to a veterinary surgeon, who determined both were in poor physical condition and that Shadow required treatment for a large wound.
Court outcome
Mukahadzi pleaded guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide adequate veterinary treatment and a suitable diet. Sheriff Martin Edington imposed a five-year ban on keeping animals, a Community Payback Order, and 90 hours of unpaid work. The sheriff noted the severity of the neglect and the need to protect animals from further harm.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “Mukahadzi failed to provide even the most basic standards of care for Shadow and Bruno. He also failed to seek the necessary veterinary treatment for a significant wound on Shadow’s neck, which had been caused by her being tethered to a radiator with an ill-fitting collar. Both dogs were clearly suffering, and I am extremely relieved that we were able to remove them from those conditions. No animal should have to endure such neglect, and thankfully Shadow and Bruno were able to receive the care and treatment they desperately needed.”
Rehabilitation of dogs
Following their rescue, Shadow and Bruno received veterinary care and were placed in the care of the Scottish SPCA. The charity confirmed that both dogs have since been rehomed and are recovering well. The case highlights the importance of reporting animal neglect and the legal consequences for failing to meet welfare standards.
