County Waterford man banned from owning dogs following animal cruelty convictions

A County Waterford man has been fined and banned from owning dogs for a decade after he was convicted of several animal cruelty charges.

Thomas Phelan, aged 25, with an address at Riverglen, Cappoquin appeared before Judge Brian O’Shea at Dungarvan District Court to face charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

According to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, guilty pleas were entered in relation to each of the four counts.

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Giving evidence, ISPCA Senior Inspector Alice Lacey described how she responded to a report regarding dogs at the accused’s address on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 and found two Lurcher dogs in the back garden.

She told the court that both dogs were in very poor condition with their ribs and hip bones protruding. The male dog, she said, had open wounds and pressure sores on his body which was indicative of lying on a hard surface for a prolonged period of time. 

Mr Phelan, the court heard, admitted ownership of the two dogs and surrendered them into the care of the ISPCA. They were taken for veterinary assessment where it was found that the male dog weighed just 10.1 Kg and the female 12.2 Kg. So severe were their conditions, they were admitted to the veterinary hospital overnight.  

In a subsequent interview under caution the defendant could not offer any explanation for the condition of the dogs other than that perhaps he wasn’t feeding them enough. In mitigation An apology was entered on Mr Phelan’s behalf, acknowledging that he neglected his animal welfare obligations.

After convicting the defendant, Judge O’Shea disqualified the accused from owning a dog or dogs for ten years. He imposed fines totalling €1,000 and ordered that he pay €947 in veterinary expenses and €1,845 in legal costs. 

Commenting on the case, Senior Inspector Lacey said: “Both dogs, once rescued, began to gain weight and thrive. Although they were in a horrific state when they came into our care, their strong will to survive outweighed the neglect they had endured. They are a testament to the resilience and strength needed to overcome their previous circumstances."

She added: "We must remember that the animals we choose to have rely solely on us to provide for them even the most basic of needs. This isn’t something we get to overlook, discount or avoid - this is a legal obligation."

According to the ISPCA , the male dog, named Ted, is still in its care and efforts are continuing to find him a proper home. For more information on adopting Ted, click here.