Donegal woman has received the dubious honor of becoming the first person in Ireland to be successfully prosecuted under the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
A small female terrier dog was was found in a rented property at Leitir Ard, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, by ISPCA Inspector Kevin McGinley on March 14 last year.
The inspector was responding to a call placed two days earlier, claiming that a dog had been abandoned at the property. He could hear a dog inside, but could see nobody around. He did leave a note asking the house occupant to contact him.
When nobody replied, he returned to the property on March 14 and contacted the Gardai.
When they entered the house, they found a dog in the kitchen. The area was heavily contaminated with dog spoor.
Gardai traced the dog’s owner, Natalie McGranaghan, to her mother’s home. Ms. McGranaghan initially claimed that the dog had been sold.
She later admitted this was not the case, and said she had fed the dog two days earlier. There was a bucket of water in the kitchen, but it was too high for the dog to reach and drink from it.
Ms. McGranaghan was convicted of animal neglect under existing legislation, and costs of €405 were awarded.