After a judge in West Cork found that a husband and wife maintained 50 dogs and over 20 puppies in filthy, stench-filled circumstances, they were sentenced to five months of suspended incarceration, reports RTE.
Additionally, Grange More, Timoleague, Co Cork residents William and Eleanor Sheehy were fined €6,000 apiece and have to pay thousands of euros in fees.
In the District Court, they entered guilty pleas to six offences each related to animal health and welfare that the Department of Agriculture had brought against them.
The Cork County Council granted the pair a permission to breed dogs in an ancient piggery on their dairy farm in Timoleague, west Cork. The couple was characterised in court as being dog lovers at heart, reports RTE.
However, an ISPCA Welfare Inspector who made two visits there in March of last year reported that it was unclean, odorous, and covered with excrement.
According to Welfare Inspector Caroline Faherty, some of the dogs had matted hair and secretions from their ears, suggesting that they had alopecia and conjunctivitis.
One of the dogs, a Newfoundland, was very malnourished, according to Ms. Faherty, and her coat was like cement, reports RTE.
In addition, there were collies, Jack Russells, Bernese mountain dogs, bichons, cavaliers, poodles, and cocker spaniels among the dogs.
The Bandon District Court concluded the case this afternoon.
Judge Monika Leech, who imposed punishments, characterised the dogs as helpless, defenceless creatures who had endured a life of suffering, reports RTE.
According to her, the data clearly demonstrated a lack of care and complete disregard.
The couple’s guilty pleas and the lack of prior convictions against them were mitigating circumstances, she noted, reports RTE.
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