A man has pleaded guilty to animal welfare charges which brought vets to tears when they were uncovered.
Bird of prey keeper Brandon Richard Hodge kept almost twenty raptors and owls in filthy dog and cat carriers in a property in Greenock, giving the birds no water or room to stretch their wings or walk.
The Scottish SPCA's investigation unit said the case was "one of the worst” they had ever seen, with birds were found in a darkened room littered with rubbish and faecal matter.
The SSPCA launched an investigation after receiving reports of birds being kept in appalling conditions.
A warrant was granted to search the home, and in May 2024, officers from Police Scotland joined SSPCA inspectors and specialist vets to assess the situation.
What they found shocked the experienced professionals. Inside the property, inspectors were met with a stench so strong it permeated the air.
Rubbish covered most surfaces, and upstairs, nineteen birds of prey and owls were discovered crammed into small pet carriers.
The containers were encrusted with faeces, decomposing waste, and remnants of dead chicks.
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The room was shrouded in darkness, with curtains drawn and no fresh water available for the birds. The animals had no space to move, stretch their wings, or even walk.
“This is one of the worst cases I've worked on regarding bird welfare,” said a Scottish SPCA Special Investigations Unit inspector. "The birds were seriously distressed, in an unsanitary and inappropriate environment, being subject to severe mental and physical suffering.
“The poor condition the birds were in and suffering they had endured significantly upset all involved in bringing this case to light.
“Upon entering the room the birds were being kept within, our experienced vets were brought to tears."
All nineteen birds were found without access to water, confined in carriers caked with filth and decay.
The SSPCA said the case highlights the importance of vigilance and reporting suspected animal cruelty.
Many of the birds have now been found new homes, ranging from The Edinburgh Zoo to the Owl Centre
Hodge, of Greenock, appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court on Wednesday 8th October and pleaded guilty to two charges.
Sentencing will take place on the 4th November 2025.
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