A Cork dog abuser receives a suspended sentence in an animal cruelty conviction appeal.
At Cork Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting on the 9th July, Vasyl Fedoryn (41) Ballypierce, Charleville, Co. Cork appealed the severity of a sentence imposed on him for animal cruelty in Mallow District Court on Tuesday 1st April 2025.
At that time, Judge Colm Roberts described his lack of care for his dogs as “absolutely appalling” and sentenced the accused to three months in jail, ordered that he pay almost €20,000 in costs and fines, and banned him from keeping any animals for fifteen years.
The court of appeal heard evidence from ISPCA Animal Welfare Inspector Caroline Faherty who responded to a complaint made to the National Animal Cruelty Helpline from a concerned member of the public on 21st April 2023.
Fighting back tears, an emotional Inspector Faherty told the court that the case was one of the worst she had dealt with in her career, saying: “I still have nightmares of going into the shed”.
She described how she found thirteen Collies and German shepherds, twelve of which were pups, living in horrendous conditions in dark, filthy sheds, and without access to water. They had no bedding, and their coats were matted with faeces.
Inspector Faherty told how she had to break padlocks to get into one of the sheds and said the “horrific” conditions were some of the worst she had faced and would stay with her forever.
Dogs Seized
An immediate decision was made to seize all the dogs and, as they were being removed, the full extent of the conditions became clear. Inspector Faherty told the court how the smell was so putrid and stomach-turning, that she repeatedly retched and had to leave the sheds for air.
Three German shepherd pups could not walk properly due to being malnourished and confined. They had no muscle mass in their legs and were walking on their back knees. Inspector Faherty described some of the Collies as feral, and “extremely nervous” which made it very difficult to get near them. Inspector Faherty said: “a lack of stimulation had resulted in the Collie dogs being so nervous, that they were feral and tried to bite her”.
Fresh drinking water was provided for a lactating German shepherd who was feeding four pups, and she was so thirsty that the water had to be temporarily removed out of fear for the dog’s welfare. Videos of the scene were played in court.
The court also heard that, although every effort was made to rehabilitate the dogs with veterinary interventions, high-level nutrition, and physiotherapy, four of the dogs had to be euthanised based on veterinary advice. These included a young German shepherd whose limbs were so deformed he could not bear any weight as he grew, and three of the feral Collie dogs that did not respond to rehabilitation efforts and were in constant fear and distress.
Inspector Faherty also told how the defendant had breached an earlier undertaking to the district court not to keep any animals on his property and said that he was “completely unrepentant” and “did not think there was any issue”.
Defendant in Custody
Having heard the evidence Judge Helen Boyle remanded the defendant in custody while she read reports and deliberated over lunch. When court resumed in the afternoon Judge Boyle said that she felt that she had to show the defendant the inside of a prison cell, but she thought that a community service order would be better than a short prison sentence.
The Judge suspended the 5-month custodial sentence in its entirety for one year and ordered that the accused complete 240 hours community service on Saturdays. She also confirmed the disqualification from owning or keeping any animal for 15 years, the fine of €500, and the order to pay €16,450 rehoming costs for the animals to the ISPCA and legal costs of €3,000 to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine.
Judge Boyle ordered that the costs be paid quarterly over a period of two years and said that, if the defendant does not complete the required community service, he will go to jail.
To report any animal welfare concerns:
ISPCA’s National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 0818 515 515
Report online at: https://ispca.ie/report-cruelty
E:helpline@ispca.ie.
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If you have a tip for an animal welfare issue, an animal news article, a press release, or just want to just reach out to us, we’d love to hear from you. John Tierney, Animal News Ireland/Editor