A vet has been banned from keeping dogs after 10 pups were found “living in filth” in a dark shed amongst “mounds of faeces”.
The horrifying sight was found during an inspection of Michael O’Reilly’s kennels.
O’Reilly, who works as veterinary inspector, had 10 Irish Terriers cooped up in a “dark shed and dirty pens”.
ISPCA inspector Caroline Faherty told courts there were “mounds of faeces and soiled shredded paper surrounding the sheds in which there were holes because of a rodent infestation”.
She also reported mould-covered faeces, indicating they had been kept there for some time, and an “overpowering smell of ammonia”.
The dogs ‘coats were described as matted and heavily contaminated with faeces, while they also had no clean lying area.
Food and water bowls were also contaminated with excrement, and some dogs had no water access at all.
Inspector Faherty was also concerned about the temperaments of the dog.
She reported not being able to get close to six of the 10 dogs and said that they were showing signs of “fear-aggression”, suggesting they had not been properly socialised.
After three inspections and no signs of improvement noted, the dogs were removed from the Castlemartyr, County Cork, property, reports Need To Know.
The kennels were first inspected on 3 May 2023, with a second inspection two days later, and a final inspection – and removal of the animals – on 8 May.
During the removal, O’Reilly was contacted and arrived at the home, where he was reportedly “argumentative” and claimed there was “nothing wrong with how his dogs were kept, and that, as a Veterinary Inspector, he knew more than her [Faherty]”.
In mitigation, Joe Cuddigan acting on behalf of the accused, argued that his client was under stress at the time because his father had been hospitalised.
He also said that Mr O’Reilly was not a dog breeder but kept show dogs.
On passing sentence, Judge Colm Roberts said that the explanation given was not supported by evidence and was not credible, and that the nature of the offences was “aggravated by his standing in society and his profession”.
Judge Roberts also said that he took judicial notice of the fact that Mr O’Reilly refused to take the stand and refused to be cross examined.
He imposed a three-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and disqualified the accused from keeping dogs for seven years.
He also fined O’Reilly €4,000 and ordered that he pay €5,000 toward prosecution costs.
Judge Roberts instructed that Mr O’Reilly is to engage with the Probation and Welfare Services and attend all appointments and courses.
He also suggested that O’Reilly could benefit from completing an animal welfare course and some stress management.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Faherty commented: “Animal abuse and neglect happens in all aspects of society.
“It was shocking that a Veterinary Surgeon, especially a Veterinary Inspector, would keep animals in such conditions.
“But nobody is above the law and, if anybody doesn’t care for their animals properly, they must be prepared to face the legal consequences”.
