Woman given a lifetime ban from owning dogs after neglect of ‘Rocky and Ruby’
A NORTH CORK resident has been banned from keeping dogs for life after being convicted of animal cruelty at a sitting of Mallow District Court.
Judge Patricia Harney also ordered that Jenny Foley (26) with an address at 7 Radharc na Sléibhte, Churchtown pay €350 in costs after she admitted six offences under sections 11,12 and 13 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act (2013).
The offences dated back to November 27 last year after senior ISPCA inspector Lisa Donovan called to Ms Foley’s home in response to a call from a concerned member of the public.
On arrival to the house Ms Donovan found two malnourished Boxer dogs in what was described in court as a “filthy enclosure.”
The dogs, Rocky (8) and Ruby (3), were surrendered into the care of the ISPCA and subsequently examined by a veterinary surgeon who found that they were “malnourished” and “suffering.”
Addressing the court, Ms Foley said that she had the dogs since they were pups and had always had problems maintaining their weight but could not afford to have them checked by a vet.
Speaking after the court hearing, Ms Donovan said that there could be “no excuses” for allowing animals to suffer needlessly.
“Owning an animal is a responsibility and there are no excuses for failing to ensure our pets get the attention that they need. This case goes to show that the penalty can be severe for people who do not look after their pets properly,” she said.
Ms Donovan said that both Rocky and Ruby steadily gained weight while in the care of the ISPCA through “sufficient feeding without the need for medical intervention.”
“They both made a full recovery and are now living wonderful lives in their new homes. If people find they are having difficulty looking after their pets they should reach out of help,,” she said.
“The ISPCA encourages members of the public to continue to report any animal welfare concerns online on https://www. ispca.ie/cruelty_complaint or by contacting the National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515 515 or by emailing helpline@ispca. ie,” she added.