A woman from Carlow has been permanently banned from owning dogs after pleading guilty to eight offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, reports Breaking News.
At Carlow District Court on April 3rd, Judge Geraldine Carthy imposed the lifetime ban on Seeta O’Neill, of Maple Court, Phelimstown, Tullow, Co Carlow.
ISPCA senior inspector Fiona Conlon gave evidence, saying she visited O’Neill’s home on February 29th, 2024, after a tip-off from a concerned member of the public, reports Breaking News.
She found three dogs on the premises. Two of them – a Jack Russell named Jack and a Yorkshire Terrier named Sasha – were in very poor condition.
The third dog, previously called Bella and described as “a tiny little Yorkshire Terrier dog”, was found dead. All the dogs were being kept outdoors with no visible food or water, reports Breaking News.
The animals were taken from the property and brought to Vetcare in Athy. A post-mortem examination on Bella revealed she had weighed just 0.8kg when she died, far below the healthy weight of 2.5kg for her breed.
A vet’s report cited signs of serious neglect, including “severe muscle wastage” and “eyes matted shut”. It determined that malnourishment likely played a role in her death, reports Breaking News.
In mitigation, Seeta O’Neill’s solicitor, Chris Hogan, told the court that she had multiple personal difficulties and significant mental health issues.
He said his client accepted the lifetime ban and had agreed that no one in her household would be responsible for any animals during her lifetime, reports Breaking News.
O’Neill offered to pay veterinary expenses, which amounted to €793.60. The court was also informed that costs of €1,500 plus VAT were being sought by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, bringing the total amount owed to €2,638.60.
Judge Carthy said she wanted the payment to the ISPCA made within two months. The case was adjourned to June 5th, 2025, for finalisation.
After the hearing, senior inspector Conlon said: “The suffering caused to these little dogs was nothing short of shocking. Jack and Sasha are now in their golden years and thankfully living their best lives with a wonderful foster family. Sadly, Bella won’t get that chance,” reports Breaking News.
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