Linda Stewart, 50, pleaded guilty to causing her dogs Bonnie and Clyde unnecessary suffering, leaving them both with severe infections.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard animal welfare inspectors found Bonnie with a matted coat, ear infections, overgrown nails and a possible tumour.

Clyde had a severe skin disease around his eyes and on his legs and chronic infection in his ears that were leaking pus. Both dogs were later put down.

The court heard Stewart told Scottish SPCA inspectors she had not taken the dogs to the vet since they were puppies and both were now 12.

Fiscal depute Isobel Martin said the inspectors went to Stewart’s home at Old Dalnottar Road on an anonymous tip-off that she was neglecting her dogs.

They had visited previously and got no answer. This time, on January 14 last year, they looked through the letter box and could see the dogs with obvious problems, making the inspectors “extremely worried” for their welfare.

After several attempts to get an answer, Stewart eventually came to the door and said she was the dogs’ owner.

Mrs Martin said: “Due to the serious ailments that were clearly viewed by the inspectors it was their position that the dogs had been caused unnecessary suffering.

“Linda Stewart was charged at that time and in reply to caution and charge she said: ‘I wasn’t working for a while. I’m just back and I’ve got rent arrears’.” The court heard Stewart signed her dogs over to the inspectors who took the them to a vet.

Mrs Martin said: “The female dog Bonnie was recorded as being of good bodily condition. Her coat was matted but it was only surface matting.

“She had an ear infection in both ears that appeared to have been present for a matter of weeks.

“She had severely overgrown nails and a growth on her nose that was possibly a tumour.

“Clyde was recorded as in good bodily condition with a coat that was in good condition. He had a clearly visible skin condition around his eyes and on his limbs that had been present for at least six weeks.

“As well as this he had a chronic ear infection which was leaking pus and had caused thickening of the ear.” Stewart’s defence lawyer claimed she was a ‘very loving owner’.

He said: “At the time of the offence she was going through difficulties. She had lost her employment, she was struggling financially and she had low mood and anxiety.

“She did try to use her own remedies, there is reference to her using antiseptic wipes. She clearly couldn’t cope.” He added: “She wasn’t deliberately mistreating the dogs but she didn’t realise she could have treated them better. She recognises that failing.

“Notwithstanding this period in the dogs’ lives she was a very loving owner.” He said the dogs were put down mainly because of their age and Stewart had no intention of caring for dogs in the future.

Sheriff Gerard MacMillan fined Stewart £565 and banned her from looking after animals for five years.