WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES: Laois dog owner ordered to pay ISPCA €20,000

The owner of a dog which suffered ‘horrific’ injuries was rescued from a property in Ballinakill last December has agreed to donate €20,000 to charity. 

Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) Inspector Jimmy McCormack said “these were some of the most horrific facial injuries I have ever seen inflicted on an innocent dog.”    

He was speaking after a 35 year-old man was brought before Portlaoise District Court earlier this month charged with five offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The ISPCA said guilty pleas were accepted on two counts under section 12 of the Act.

ISPCA Inspector McCormack had called to the accused’s address in Ballinakill on December 16, 2024 where he found eight dogs living in dirty conditions. He said they were kept without access to fresh drinking water. Three of the dogs had scarring on their faces and jaws, including a Patterdale Terrier which had a serious and recent injury to its jaw. Mr McCormack said the defendant had claimed that the injury had been sustained while hunting foxes the previous day. He also denied owning some of the other dogs.

The injured Patterdale, later named Brock, was surrendered and taken for immediate veterinary attention. Surgery was required to stitch and repair the infected wound.

Inspector McCormack described how he called back to the defendant’s property to check if improvements had been made in the care of the other dogs and found all of the kennels empty.  He was told the remaining dogs had been stolen. 

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It was claimed in court that the dogs were used for fox hunting and that the accused kept the animals in his shed for a group of individuals. 

The ISPCA said the man agreed to make a contribution of €20,000 to the ISPCA, pay €2,487 in costs and €3,000 in legal fees. The case was adjourned to a court in Laois on January 16 for the payment to be made.   

Inspector McCormack said: “Animal baiting is illegal, and those that engage in what is currently lawful hunting with dogs still have a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of their dogs. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and the judge has sent out a clear message that this cannot be tolerated.

We in the ISPCA are at the forefront of ensuring that those who fail in their responsibilities to animals in their care face the full extent of the law to prevent future occurrences of this nature”.