This is a harrowing case of animal cruelty involving 67 dogs that were removed from two separate properties in Co. Waterford owned by the defendant. While all the dogs and puppies in this case suffered, one dog in particular, a male adult Lurcher called Lachlan, endured unimaginable suffering and pain.
The first visit resulted from a welfare call made to the Waterford County council planning department regarding a possible illegal dog breeding establishment. On the 23rd July 2024, NSPCA Senior Inspector Alice Lacey attended the property with the Waterford County Council dog warden.
69 dogs, including three pups were found at the property. Most of the dogs were housed in outhouses on the property, either in dog crates or small pens. The living conditions were extremely sub-standard.
Inside the dwelling house, more dogs were housed in different rooms. A male fawn Lurcher was found to be alive, but completely immobile, on a couch. He was in a huge amount of distress and had horrific open wounds on his body, down to the bone.
This dog was removed from the property that same day and had be euthanised due to the severity of his condition.
Over two separate dates, a further 55 dogs were removed from that same property.
Shortly after, the defendant was evicted from that property and moved with her remaining 17 dogs. On the 11th of December, Inspector Lacey removed a further 7 puppies and 4 dogs from this new location.
In court on Friday 5th December 2025, the defendant, a 63 year old woman pleaded guilty to 29 counts under the Animal Health & Welfare Act. Judge John O’Leary said that having heard the facts, that this is “a very serious case”.
Senior Inspector Lacey described how when she arrived at the property on the 23rd July 2024 with dog warden Keith Murphy, she was told by the defendant that there were “roughly 30 dogs” at the property. After a full count, she found that there were more than 60.
These included pregnant dogs and one dog that had given birth inside a bathroom. Around 20 dogs were living within the dwelling house, and the remainder were housed in sub-standard conditions in outhouses and sheds. She described how some of the dogs were “in dog crates stacked on top of one another”.
She also described how she saw an elderly male lurcher lying on a couch. The defendant had said at the time that the dog was elderly and became immobile weeks before. “He was wrapped in a pink blanket.
Once the blanket was removed, she saw that there were three women’s sanitary pads covering different parts of his body”. When the pad from his shoulder area was lifted, the dogs shoulder bone was fully exposed. “There was no fur, no flesh. It was down to the bone. When the dog was brought to a vet, the remainder of the pads were removed. “The dog’s ribcage was also exposed, down to the bone. His pin bone was also down to the bone”. “The pads removed were covered with blood”. She went onto describe that the exact same wounds were present on the opposite side of the dog’s body.
Defence barrister, Sarah Comerford pleaded for leniency, pointing out her client had no previous convictions and had not been in a great place mentally at the time but she had since taken steps to improve the conditions for the ten dogs still in her care.
Judge John O’Leary imposed a lifetime ban under Section 58 of the Animal Welfare Act of keeping any animals and handed down a 4 month custodial sentence on 22 counts, suspended for one year.
He ordered the immediate removal of the remaining ten dogs from her care. Due to the defendant being of little means, and although costs of €5,000 were put forward, Judge O’Leary ordered her to pay €300.
“This case has come before the court and highlighted a serious welfare situation with a large volume of dogs, resulting in indiscriminate breeding & welfare standards drastically decreasing over time. Lachlan, a male lurcher, who had to be euthanized due to serious wounds down to the bone, has never left my mind since that day. The suffering he endured was immense. This court outcome is a reminder that people will be held accountable for failing to safeguard the health and welfare of their animals. A huge and heartfelt thank you to Dog’s Trust who aided in the removal of a considerable number of dogs in this case. Thankfully, every other dog removed was successfully rehabilitated and went on to find wonderful homes”. – NSPCA Senior Inspector Alice Lacey
Please continue to report any suspicions of animal cruelty or neglect to the NSPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline by calling 0818 515 515, email [email protected] or report online here: https://ispca.ie/report-cruelty/.
If you can, please support the NSPCA’s vital rescue work by making a life-saving donation today. You will be helping rescue more animals from appalling situations: https://ispca.ie/donations/
