Celbridge Couple Fined And Banned From Keeping Dogs After Animal Cruelty Conviction

Monday, 24 June 2024 15:39

By Martin Osborne

The defendant told Inspector McCormack that she and her partner were the owners of both dogs and agreed to surrender them into the care of the ISPCA.

A celbridge couple are not allowed to own dogs for five years after two malnourished dogs were found in a yard at the back of their house.

The couple in their 40’s, from Primrose Gate, Celbridge, entered guilty pleas to five offences each under sections 11, 12, and 13 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA).

ISPCA Inspector James McCormack gave evidence of calling to the defendants’ home on Monday 28th November 2022, in response to a report received.

He spoke with the woman and was shown two dogs.

One was a Shih-tzu type dog in a yard at the back of the house without access to food or water.

The dog’s coat was badly matted, and it was underweight.

The second dog was an American Bulldog, which was living in filthy conditions in a pen to the side of the property.

It was extremely thin with his ribs very prominent and had no food or clean water.

The defendant told Inspector McCormack that she and her partner were the owners of both dogs and agreed to surrender them into the care of the ISPCA.

A subsequent veterinary examination found both dogs to be malnourished with body condition scores of just 1/5.

The American Bully had muscle wastage on his back legs, and both dogs had ear discharge and overgrown nails.

The matts on the Shih-tzu were tightened on the skin and causing pain.

The court heard that the Shih-tzu was successfully rehomed but that the Bully had persistent health issues while in the care of the ISPCA and was euthanised 10 months after his removal.

It could not be said whether the health issues were a direct consequence of the care he had received previously.

After hearing mitigation from the defence, Judge Anthony Halpin indicated that he intended to apply the Probation Act, provided both parties gave an undertaking not to keep any dogs for a period of five years and agreed to contribute €1,000 each to the ISPCA.

He adjourned the matter until 21st July 2025.