A CARDENDEN man has been banned from owning animals for ten years.

This follows Sean Burns leaving his ill nine month old German Shepherd dog with neighbours while he went on a night out.

Burns, now of Cardenden, admitted that he caused unnecessary suffering and failed to seek adequate veterinary treatment for Lexi who was unable to stand and suffered from internal bleeding.

Burns had appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court for sentencing when Sheriff James Williamson was told that Burns, despite receiving phone calls telling him about his dog's failing health, he did not seek veterinary treatment.

The labourer had taken the dog to the vet last year and was prescribed a lengthy course of antibiotics to treat a painful cut.

But he failed to take the animal to follow up treatment due to financial issues and infection took hold of the dog. The dog died on September 10.

Burns also admitted pushing a teenager on the body, swearing and making threats of violence in Strathore Road, Thornton, on July 11 and he will be sentenced on that one in January.

However, on the charge of neglecting the dog he was given a 180 hours community payback order and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.