Pensioner left dogs ‘lifeless’ & chained
But judge spares man, 78, jail time due to his age
A PENSIONER who neglected several dogs leaving one of them “lifeless” while chained to a wall has avoided jail after a judge said “given his age he was not a good candidate for prison”.
Michael Bradley, 78, was convicted and fined €1,000 and disqualified from keeping any animals for life after he admitted 10 offences of animal cruelty.
Bradley, of St John’s Drive, Ballinacree, Co Cork, was before Macroom District Court last Wednesday, where the judge ruled he is allowed to keep 20 or less sheep, one working sheep dog and a donkey.
The court heard a male collie, which was almost hairless and his skin was inflamed, was attached to a wall by a heavy chain and was “lifeless” surrounded by its faeces and had no access to food or water.
ISPCA senior inspector Emma Carroll visited Bradley’s yard beside a derelict cottage at Lyroe, Lahern, Ballinagree, Co Cork on July 1, 2022.
Ms Carroll recounted observing several animals for which she had concerns including a thin female collie cowering in rubbish and confined by a chain, unable to move or find shelter.
The inspector discovered another female collie along with her five young nursing puppies in an open shed.
The mother was tethered to a wall with a chain so short that she had limited ability to move and was seen pulling against it.
The bedding in the shed was wet and soiled straw. All the puppies had wet coats due to being exposed to the rain.
Seven ducks were found in a cattle trailer. They had no access to daylight, food or water and were living in their own filth.
The defendant agreed to surrender two collies and the seven ducks, but a further two collies and the five pups were seized by the inspectors.
Instructions were issued regarding the care of other animals in the yard, and a subsequent visit confirmed the defendant had complied at that time.
The court heard Bradley was a smalltime farmer and trialled sheep dogs.
Judge James Mcnulty told the man “he must pay a price for neglecting the animals in his care”.
The judge also ordered forfeiture of the seized dogs to the ISPCA.
[Defendant] must pay a price for neglecting the animals in his care