Animal Ban After Cat Abandoned in Flat

A care home worker who left his behind cat in an empty flat in Fife when he was evicted has been banned from keeping animals for 32 months. Wayne Stewart, 38, abandoned the distressed pet, which already had a leg injury, after being kicked out of the property in Abel Place, Dunfermline, on May 28th 2014, by his landlords. The grey female domestic shorthair was not found for nearly a fortnight, when workers from Stewart's letting agency entered to check the premises on June 10th. Prosecutor Lorraine Almond told Dunfermline Sheriff Court that the letting agency staff were "immediately concerned for its welfare". She said: "There was no food or water, except for discoloured water in the toilet." Animal welfare charity the Scottish SPCA was called in, and managed to coax the animal into a cat basket and take it to a nearby vet hospital. Ms Almond said: "It was emaciated and very hungry. "It had an untreated, chronic wound on its leg. Stewart was traced to another address and agreed to sign the pet over to be re-homed. Its leg had to be amputated. He was charged with animal neglect and told officers that his behaviour was "out of character for me". He bleated: "I loved that wee cat. She was my only constant. I wish I could go back and change the situation." After he was cautioned he told police that the animal had injured its leg by getting it caught in its own collar in April, and he had expected it to heal. Stewart pleaded guilty to two charges of animal neglect, causing pain and suffering.