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Edinburgh Man Admits Abandoning Dog and Abusing Police
An Edinburgh man has pleaded guilty to neglecting his dog and directing abusive language towards police officers. Gary Mutch, 37, left his dog unattended in a flat in Duddingston for four days without food or water before being reported to the authorities.
According to court proceedings, Mutch left the property on August 23, 2026. Police were alerted on August 27 after neighbours expressed concerns regarding the welfare of the dog. Upon arrival, officers discovered the dog without access to food or water, and the flat was found in a distressing state, covered in faeces.
The court heard that the dog was heard barking by neighbours during Mutch’s absence and was reported to be “howling loudly” when police arrived. Officers entered the flat through a rear window to find all the lights off and all rooms covered in faeces and urine. The dog itself was similarly covered and displayed clear signs of distress. Police provided immediate assistance by giving the dog a bowl of water, which it drank eagerly before being removed from the property for its safety.
On the same day, police located Mutch at another address on Greendykes Road. When asked to leave, he became aggressive and shouted racial abuse towards the officers. During these outbursts, he made a series of threatening comments, including insults and warnings of violence.
Mutch appeared before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on October 12, 2026, where he was charged under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and for threatening or abusive behaviour. Sheriff John Cook deferred sentencing, pending a criminal justice social work report, and has temporarily disqualified Mutch from caring for any animals.
