A Glasgow veterinary nurse who deliberately injected her own dog with insulin, causing the animal to collapse and suffer seizures, has been given a community payback order. Georgina Bretman, 28, from Rhu near Helensburgh, was convicted at Glasgow Sheriff Court of causing unnecessary suffering to her black-and-white cocker spaniel, Florence, on 23 June 2013.
The court heard that the dog could have ended up in a coma or died as a result of the insulin injection. Bretman, who worked at Pet A&E in Glasgow, was described by her employer as an 'attention-seeker'. No explanation was offered for her actions, and she showed no remorse.
Bretman's former employer, Lesley Herd, became suspicious after Florence needed emergency treatment several times for collapsing, twitching, and vomiting, with tests showing low glucose levels. On one occasion, Mrs Herd predicted that Florence would fall ill after giving Bretman the evening off, which came true.
During the trial, Bretman denied the charge, saying she only wanted to find out what was wrong with her dog. However, she was convicted. Sheriff Kerr imposed a community payback order as a 'direct alternative' to jail, requiring 140 hours of unpaid work and a two-year ban from keeping a dog.
This is believed to be the first prosecution and conviction of its kind in Scotland for an owner harming their dog in such a way. Florence has since recovered and will be rehomed by the Scottish SPCA.
