A shocking case of animal cruelty has resulted in a man being jailed and ordered to pay nearly €20,000 after the discovery of horrifying conditions at a puppy farm in Charleville, Co. Cork.
Vasyl Fedoryn, 41, Ballypierce, Charleville, Co. Cork. pleaded guilty to multiple animal welfare offenses after authorities found 13 dogs living in “putrid” conditions, some so emaciated they could only walk on their knees.
At an earlier sitting of Mallow District Court, Co. Cork, the scene at the property was described by an ISPCA inspector was one of unimaginable neglect: dark, filthy, rodent-infested pens, dogs matted with faeces, and a severe lack of water.
The ISPCA inspector had to wear protective gear due to the overwhelming stench and filth on the property.
The court heard harrowing details of dogs desperately trying to dig their way out of waterless pens, and others so traumatized or physically damaged that they had to be euthanised.
Thirteen dogs were removed from the property. Despite a substantial cost of incurred to provide rehabilitation care to the animals, four dogs had to be euthanised.
Fedoryn, who has been an Irish citizen since 2013, had pleaded guilty to nine of 14 offences, under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, were made on April 21, 2023.
Five of the charges were withdrawn.
Family man
His solicitor, Denis Linehan, told the court that his client was a family man who spend a time away from the property due to work commitments. He was not operating a puppy farm and there was no financial gain from having the dogs.
Mr Fedoryn has no previous convictions, and his solictor expressed the view that his client was unlikely to come before the court again.
Judge Colm Roberts condemned Mr Fedoryn actions as “excessive cruelty,” noting the “very, very significant level” of harm inflicted on the animals.
Mr Fedoryn, was sentenced to three months in jail, disqualified from owning animals for 15 years, and ordered to pay substantial veterinary and legal fees amounting to over €19,000.
This will involve paying €16,450.30 to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and €3,000 in the State’s legal fees.
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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