ISPCA Inspector Caroline Faherty told the court that she called to the accused’s address on 9th October 2023 and found the dog living in a filthy garden overgrown with nettles. She said that the dog had an obvious and severe skin condition. His face, ears and back were covered in open sores and scabs. His skin was raw and bleeding and was hot to the touch.
The dog was surrendered and taken immediately for veterinary attention. Inspector Faherty referred to a report from the vet which said that Rocky was underweight and suffering from sarcoptic mange which had been left untreated resulting in alopecia and secondary skin infections. The vet was of the opinion that his condition would have represented an ongoing source of pain and irritation.
Inspector Faherty described how she met with the accused some weeks later and conducted an interview under caution with him. During the interview he admitted that he had the dog for a year and, despite the fact that it had the skin condition all of that time, he had not sought veterinary care. He claimed that he had intended to but was called away for work. The accused said that he tried applying cream, but the dog would run away.
Judge Joanne Carroll described the dog’s condition as “pure neglect” and asked if he has to be euthanised as a result. Ms Faherty said that the dog was successfully rehabilitated and rehomed a few months later and showed a recent photo of Rocky. Judge Carroll ordered that the accused complete 40 hours of community service in lieu of two month’s imprisonment and disqualified him from owning dogs for a period of 15 years. He was also fined €150.
Reflecting on the case Inspector Faherty said: “Mange is a condition that is easy to treat if action is taken in a timely manner, so Rocky’s prolonged suffering was entirely unnecessary and avoidable. If you do not have the time to look after an animal or are not willing to devote the required resources to its care, then don’t get one”.
ISPCA Animal Welfare Inspectors work tirelessly in very challenging situations rescuing vulnerable animals that are suffering, just like Rocky. Please consider making a life-saving donation today to support our vital rescue and rehabilitation work by visiting: https://ispca.ie/donations/
The ISPCA encourages the public to report any suspicions of animal cruelty, neglect or abuse to its confidential National Animal Cruelty Helpline by calling 0818 515 515, reporting online here: https://ispca.ie/report-cruelty/ or by emailing [email protected].
