What happened to Shelby the English Bulldog?

Shelby, a two-year-old English Bulldog owned by Mandy Lawrie, tragically died after being taken on a walk in 27°C heat by dog walker Dave McGhee. Doorbell camera footage showed McGhee returning Shelby to the home in an exhausted, lifeless state, but he failed to seek veterinary care.

How did Mandy Lawrie react to Shelby's death?

Mandy Lawrie, who has multiple sclerosis and COPD, was devastated to find her beloved pet Shelby dead in her living room. Shelby was "like one of her children," and Mandy was already grieving the recent loss of her sister when this tragedy occurred.

What did the investigation reveal about Dave McGhee's actions?

The police and Scottish SPCA investigation found that Dave McGhee, the owner of the dog walking company Dave's Dugs, had failed to provide proper care for Shelby during the hot walk. Doorbell camera footage showed him returning the clearly distressed dog to Mandy's home, but he made no attempt to seek veterinary treatment or notify the family.

Home / Lifestyle / Grieving Owner Finds Beloved Dog Dead After Disastrous Walk

Grieving Owner Finds Beloved Dog Dead After Disastrous Walk

14 Aug

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Summary

Dog walker failed to seek vet care for exhausted dog
Doorbell camera footage shows walker carrying lifeless dog
Owner devastated, lost pet was "like one of her children"

Grieving Owner Finds Beloved Dog Dead After Disastrous Walk

On August 12, 2025, a dog owner in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire was left traumatized after discovering her beloved two-year-old English Bulldog, Shelby, dead in her living room. The dog had been taken for a walk by a local dog walker, Dave McGhee, earlier that day.

Mandy Lawrie, the 63-year-old owner, had hired McGhee's company, Dave's Dugs, to walk her three pets a year ago due to her own mobility issues stemming from multiple sclerosis and COPD. However, the walk on that fateful day proved disastrous.

Doorbell camera footage obtained by Mandy's daughter, Michelle, showed McGhee returning Shelby to the home nearly an hour after picking her up, cradling the clearly exhausted and lifeless animal in his arms. Despite this, McGhee had claimed to Mandy that the 20-minute walk in the shade had gone well, and that Shelby was "happy" when he dropped her off.

Mandy, who was still grieving the recent loss of her sister, was devastated to find Shelby dead on the living room floor. Her other dog, Raven, was left staring at Shelby's body, unable to understand what had happened. The family immediately contacted the police and the Scottish SPCA to investigate the incident.

McGhee has since apologized for Shelby's tragic death, but Mandy and her family remain outraged that he failed to seek veterinary care or even notify them that the dog was in distress. English Bulldogs are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses due to their short muzzles, and the scorching 27°C temperatures that day proved too much for the poor animal.

The devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of exercising pets in extreme heat, and the importance of responsible pet care. As the country faces another heatwave, veterinary experts urge owners to be vigilant and, if necessary, skip walks altogether to protect their furry companions.

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