Wicklow house of animal horror results in lifetime animal ownership ban.
Karen Saunderson (68), with an address in England, and formerly of The Stables, Templelusk, Avoca, Co. Wicklow, was given a four-and-a-half year suspended prison sentence, banned from owning animals for life, and ordered to pay €15,000 in costs at Bray Circuit Court on Thursday 29 May last.
Ms Saunderson had previously pleaded guilty to ten charges, under sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA).
The case related to a total of 43 animals removed from the defendant’s property on Friday 18th November 2016, following a complaint made to the ISPCA’s National Animal Cruelty Helpline.
ISPCA Chief Inspector, Conor Dowling, gave evidence that on a visit to the property he observed a total of 43 dogs, five horses, a pig and wild boar. He said when he inspected the living area of the property the smell of ammonia from the urine of the animals burned his eyes.
He observed an overweight pig lying on its side and squealing in a filthy stable. This animal was later euthanised to end its suffering.
Inspector Dowling said that in a stables he fond 12 dogs living in dreadful underfoot conditions with no access to water. Some the dogs were observed to be stressed due to the dreadful conditions.
He described he saw a Mastiff with a withered leg. This animal was euthanised a week later on veterinary advice. Also, he saw a pregnant German shepherd dog, who after being rescued later gave birth to nine pups. All of which died.
Animals Removed
Most of the animals needed to be removed from the premises immediately. Wicklow SPCA, Wicklow Dog Pound, the Irish Horse Welfare and Trust and Dogs Trust assisted in removing the animals to safety.
The ISPCA said €12,229 were the calculated costs of the investigation but it believed that the true cost was a multiple of that figure.
On sentencing, Judge Patrick Quinn described the case as, “one of the most appalling cases brought before him”, and said that all the offending was at the upper end in terms of gravity. He also questioned how it got this far, and how no one could notice what was going on, not just for the animals but for the defendant too.
Judge Quinn commented that the accumulation of more and more animals in the space of three or four years would have contributed to the defendant being overwhelmed to the point that she couldn’t cope and became a welfare concern for the animals as well as a mental health issue for herself.
Judge Quinn handed down a suspended sentence of four and a half years for each count, to run concurrently, and banned the woman from owning animals for life; she was also ordered to pay €15,000 in costs, to be paid within twelve months as a condition of the bond.
ISCPA Chief Inspector
Speaking after the court case, ISPCA Chief Inspector Conor Dowling said: “This case has been ongoing for many years, and I am relieved that it has finally reached a successful conclusion with the animal owner held accountable before the courts. We are always mindful of working with vulnerable people, but our priority is for the welfare of the animals involved. This situation should never have been allowed to develop as it did, where animals were left to suffer. Anyone who chooses to keep animals has both a legal and moral responsibility to adequately care for them, and if you are unable to do so, you should seek help.”
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