On Monday 25th March 2024, a married couple with an address at Birchgrove, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, appeared before Judge Nicola Andrews at Portlaoise District Court in relation to animal cruelty offences and having possession of a dog that was not microchipped. They pleaded guilty to all charges.
ISPCA Animal Welfare Inspector Jimmy McCormack gave evidence to the court of calling to the defendants’ address on Wednesday 23rd November 2022 in response to a report made to the ISPCA’s National Animal Cruelty Helpline.
In the back garden he found a two-year-old lurcher dog along with her six five-week-old puppies, all in poor condition. He could see that the mother dog, later named Bev, was severely underweight with her ribs and hip bones prominent. She also had hair loss, was red all over, and was scratching herself. Her pups had swollen bellies.
ISPCA Inspector McCormack told the court that the woman, who was present at the property, agreed to surrender the dogs into ISPCA care. However, when Inspector McCormack spoke to the woman’s husband by phone, he objected to the dogs being taken from the property.
The dogs were taken for veterinary assessment where the female dog was found to be emaciated, with irritated and thickened skin as a result of mange. She also had discharge from her ears and overgrown nails. Her young puppies were also underweight with prominent ribs and had dull and dirty coats.
Inspector McCormack further described how he called back to the defendants’ home on a later date to offer the couple an opportunity to make a statement under-caution. Both parties declined and the husband claimed that there was no proof that the dogs were his, that he found the dog wandering around the estate.
Convicting the defendants, Judge Andrews said she had seen the ISPCA photographs and was troubled by the condition of the dogs. She made an order disqualifying the couple from owning dogs for five years. She also fined the defendants €500 each and ordered that they pay €805.07 in costs.
Inspector McCormack said: “Bev and her nursing puppies were severely neglected, and the outcome of this case might be a warning for others, that acts of animal cruelty are being punished through the courts and these cases will hopefully be a deterrent for anyone who is in breach of animal welfare legislation.”
He added: “A responsible pet owner would have ensured that Bev received the basic veterinary treatment for her skin and ear conditions that she deserved, and that she would have been spayed, preventing her from having a litter of unwanted puppies, adding to the serious dog welfare crisis in Ireland.”
The ISPCA is calling on the public to continue to report any animal welfare concerns, by calling the ISPCA’s National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 0818 515 515, report online at: https://stg.ispca.ie/report-cruelty/ or email [email protected].
ISPCA Inspectors work tirelessly rescuing dogs just like Bev and her puppies, from terrible situations and we need public support now more than ever before, to help prevent further animals suffering. A kind donation will help us continue rescuing the animals who need us the most. If you can, please donate online here at https://stg.ispca.ie/donations/
