Pony abuse owner allowed to keep his surviving pets

A MAN found guilty of neglecting four Shetland ponies and a donkey - leading to two of the animals being put down - will be allowed to keep his pets.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard yesterday Julian Morrison, 68, failed to provide proper vet and farrier care to one of the animals and farrier care to the other four.

Senior inspector with the Scottish SPCA Jennifer Scott, 33, said the conditions at the stables at Dalhousie Mains, Gorebridge, were very dirty.

One Shetland stallion, Starri, had to be put down the day after the inspection. Another Shetland stallion, Goldie, was put down a few days later.

Morrison, of Lorne Street, Edinburgh, had denied causing the animals unnecessary suffering between March 31 and August 21, 2009, but he was found guilty after trial.

Morrison was banned from owning more than one donkey or two ponies, but was told the surviving animals would be returned to him.