Published: March 2026

On Monday, 3 March 2026, at Mallow District Court, a Cork man admitted 15 offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 in relation to seven dogs and puppies.

The charges included causing unnecessary suffering to the animals, failing to safeguard their health and welfare, and failing to provide them with uncontaminated drinking water and wholesome food.

The court heard evidence from NSPCA Inspector Caroline Faherty, who outlined how she attended at the defendant’s property on 15 May 2024 after being alerted by Cork County Dog Warden John Manning.

On arrival, she discovered an adult collie, a juvenile collie, four collie puppies and an adult terrier being kept in a shed divided into two rooms. Both areas were described as filthy and heavily contaminated with faeces and effluent.

Inspector Faherty told the court that the dogs’ coats were severely matted and encrusted with faeces as a result of being forced to lie in their own waste.

Although there was a tap dripping inside the shed, it had been fenced off, preventing the dogs from accessing water. No food or drinking water was available to them, and one of the puppies was observed drinking effluent.

The Inspector further stated that while two of the adult dogs were friendly, the juvenile collie and all four puppies were extremely fearful of the officers.

The puppies were described as effectively feral, displaying fear-based aggression and behaviour consistent with a lack of socialisation and human handling.

All seven dogs were seized and transported for veterinary examination. Each was found to be underweight, with coats matted in faeces and urine. The terrier’s nails were overgrown, and the puppies continued to exhibit signs of nervous aggression.

The court was told that the dogs were subsequently surrendered by the accused.

However, the puppies required several months of intensive rehabilitation to address their behavioural issues and ensure they were sufficiently socialised before being considered suitable for rehoming.

Despite submissions from the defence seeking the application of the Probation Act in order to avoid a criminal conviction, Judge Colm Roberts indicated that he considered a disqualification order necessary, which required the entry of a conviction.

Judge Roberts convicted the defendant on all 15 counts and imposed a 10-year disqualification order preventing him from keeping dogs.

He further ordered the payment of €10,766 in costs relating to the rehabilitation of the animals, €2,500 in legal costs, and €1,600 in veterinary witness expenses. A total fine of €3,000 was also imposed.

Commenting on the case, Inspector Faherty said:

“It was not just physical scars that needed to heal in this case, the lack of socialisation afforded to the puppies in their first few crucial formative months had a devastating impact on their behavioural development.

“Thankfully, they all went on to make full recoveries and find loving homes, but that process took several months.

“That was at considerable cost to a charity and took up space and resources that could have been used to help other animals in need”.