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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's animal welfare system is unfit for purpose and animals are suffering because of it
You smell it before you see it. Rotting straw. Faeces. Sour milk. The air inside an illegal puppy farm hits your throat like poison. Tiny puppies, barely more than bone, shiver in wire crates. Their mothers lie silent in the dark, bodies worn out, teats raw from relentless breeding. No daylight. No clean water. No kindness. And this is happening in Ireland. Right now. In sheds, garages, and backyards, hidden in plain sight. We don't need to look abroad for horror stories. We are living one. Ireland often describes itself as a nation of animal lovers. But behind that image lies a system on the brink, where cruelty too often goes unchecked and compassion is stretched to breaking point. Shelters are full. Rescuers are burning out. Animals are dying. Across the country, animal rescues are at crisis point. Dogs are being surrendered or euthanised in record numbers. These are not only strays, but pets bred for profit and discarded when no longer wanted. Common reasons include: 'Too much work.' 'Too rough with the baby.' 'No time anymore.' Ponies are mistreated in housing estates. Horses are dragged along national roads by children on e-scooters. These are dangerous acts that threaten both animal welfare and public safety. Inside unlicensed breeding operations, female dogs are bred over and over, sometimes re-impregnated just weeks after giving birth. The damage to their bodies and minds is immense. Picture: ISPCA Meanwhile, puppies bred in filthy sheds are sold through unregulated online platforms and private messaging apps. Some are taken in by irresponsible owners or used for more backyard breeding. In some reported cases, there are links to dog fighting. When breeding females are no longer profitable, they are quietly destroyed or abandoned. The public usually sees only a fraction of this, a Facebook post, a call for help. But behind every image is an exhausted volunteer, an unpayable vet bill, and a shelter with no room left. This is not a temporary crisis. It is a national abandonment. Inside unlicensed breeding operations, female dogs are bred over and over, sometimes re-impregnated just weeks after giving birth. The damage to their bodies and minds is immense. Under Irish law, anyone can keep up to five breeding females without registering as a dog breeding establishment. This loophole enables individuals to sell dozens of puppies every year with little oversight, often untaxed and unregulated. This is not care. It is industrial-scale reproductive abuse. Ireland is often referred to as the puppy farm capital of Europe, and with good reason. Legislative loopholes, low enforcement capacity, and political inertia all contribute to this ongoing cruelty. Political momentum is growing, but action is what matters. In recent months, a number of TDs have raised concerns in the Dáil: Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny has called for a national plan to tackle horse abuse; Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl highlighted welfare issues in housing estates; Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan questioned enforcement failures in Cork North Central; People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy proposed a taskforce to shut down illegal breeding operations; Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart urged the appointment of a national director of animal welfare; Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe said: 'This approach to horse welfare is ludicrous, grossly unfair to the horses, and presents a woeful image of our towns and cities.' These are important voices, and their support is welcome. But statements alone won't save animals. We need enforcement, legislation, and real resources. Animal cruelty does not happen in isolation. It is a well-established warning sign for other forms of violence: In Ireland, 57% of women in domestic violence refuges report pet abuse by their partners; In the UK, 70% of domestic abuse survivors say their pets were harmed or threatened; In the US, the FBI tracks animal cruelty as a high-level offence. Ninety-six percent of offenders also face charges such as domestic violence or child abuse; In Canada and Australia, animal abuse is considered in child protection and domestic violence risk assessments. One encouraging initiative: the DSPCA now provides temporary foster care for pets belonging to domestic abuse victims. This trauma-informed service saves lives. But it is the exception, not the norm. We urgently need a coordinated national framework. The Department of Agriculture currently holds responsibility for both promoting animal industries and regulating their welfare. This structural conflict makes truly independent oversight difficult. Picture: ISPCA The Department of Agriculture currently holds responsibility for both promoting animal industries and regulating their welfare. This structural conflict makes truly independent oversight difficult. This is not an accusation. It is a call for reform. Enforcement must be independent, properly resourced, and free from commercial influence. Many gardaí want to act. But without a national structure, clear protocols, or proper training, they are often left unsure of what they can do, who to contact, or how to respond safely. We urgently need an animal welfare crime unit within An Garda Síochána. Such a unit would: Investigate and prosecute cruelty and illegal breeding; Track repeat offenders; Share data between shelters, councils, and gardaí; Integrate animal abuse into wider safeguarding systems. Ireland's animal welfare system is not just in crisis. It is collapsing. But the solutions are in plain sight. We need independent enforcement. Stronger laws. Reliable funding for shelters. Gardaí who are trained and empowered. And a commitment to treat cruelty not as a niche concern but as a sign of deeper harm in our society. If we fail to act, we're not just failing animals. We're failing ourselves. Because every day without action is another day an animal suffers in silence. Kerry Pollock is head of animal welfare advocacy at My Lovely Horse animal rescue Read More Gardaí investigate viral horse cruelty video after searching farmland in Co Tipperary
Agriland
6 days ago
- Agriland
Court: Woman fined €15,000 and banned from owning animals for life
A circuit court judge has banned a woman from owning animals for life and ordered her to pay €15,000 in costs as a result of 'one of the most appalling cases brought before him'. Karen Sanderson (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 yesterday (Thursday May, 29). Sanderson had previously pleaded guilty to ten charges, under sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA). It marked the final chapter in the case which originated from a complaint to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) helpline in 2016. Court As a result of the call a total of 43 animals were removed from Karen Sanderson's rented property on November 18, 2016. ISPCA chief inspector, Conor Dowling, told Bray Circuit Court that when he called to the property Sanderson had rented near Avoca he saw five underweight horses in a dirty yard and mucky arena. In stables off the same yard, he also found a wild boar in a 'filthy stable and a pig that was unable to stand in another'. The court was told that neither of the animals had access to water or a clean lying area. In three other stables twelve dogs were discovered living in squalid conditions, with no bedding or water. Inspector Dowling also told the court that there was a 'horrendous smell' from the stables and how he saw ripped up remains of dog food bags scattered around. He also detailed that a german shepherd housed in a group of five dogs was only days away from whelping and that she later produced nine puppies, some of which were deformed and none of which survived. The inspector outlined how another dog was an aged Mastiff with chronic osteoarthritis and an old injury, rendering one of his legs useless. Euthanised Bray Circuit Court was told that this dog was euthanised approximately a week later, on veterinary advice. ISPCA chief inspector also described to the court that when he visited Karen Sanderson's rented property on November 18, 2016 he had proceeded up a metal stair to the door of a loft dwelling. He said that the stair and the roof of the building were covered in dog faeces and that he formed the opinion that excrement was being thrown out of Velux windows in the roof. When he knocked on the door of the dwelling, he heard more barking and shouting noises from inside, and decided to request assistance garda assistance. The court was told that gardaí arrived at the scene and made contact with the accused, Karen Sanderson. The ISPCA chief inspector then described how, when the door of the dwelling was opened, dogs came 'spilling' down the stairs. A further 31 dogs, including some giant breeds, were found living in on the property in what the Inspector described a, 'a stressful and chaotic environment'. Inspector Dowling said that there was faecal matter on every surface in the dwelling, and the stench of ammonia was so strong that according to the ISPCA it hurt his eyes and made it difficult for him to breathe. He described how there was a pool of urine in the hallway and a video was played for the court in which the accused tried to claim that the dogs had just urinated when the investigators had called at the door. The court was also shown photographs of a selection of animals including a Cocker Spaniel that could not use its hind legs and was dragging itself through the soiled environment, and a Mastiff which had an injury to its toe so severe that some of the bone was protruding, and the dog was gnawing at the exposed bone. The Mastiff required surgery to amputate its toe. It was agreed that most of the animals needed to be removed from the premises immediately, and chief inspector Dowling enlisted the help of Wicklow SPCA, Wicklow Dog Pound, the Irish Horse Welfare and Trust and Dogs Trust, in removing the animals. A veterinary practitioner attended the scene and recommended that a pig that could not stand, be euthanised to prevent further suffering. The court was also told that subsequent veterinary examinations of the animals removed from the premises revealed a catalogue of health issues including injuries, flea infestation, ear mites, worms, skin irritation, matted and soiled coats, ear infections, chronic arthritis, cherry eye, mud fever and rain scald. Inspector Dowling said that, while the pig and the two geriatric Mastiffs were euthanised, the majority of the animals had made full recoveries. 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 said 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 could not 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. ISPCA Commenting on the outcome of the case, Conor Dowling, ISPCA chief inspector said he was relieved that it had 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,' he added. The ISPCA wants anyone who has suspicions of animal cruelty, neglect or abuse to report this on its confidential National Animal Cruelty Helpline by calling 0818 515 515, emailing helpline@ or via its website.
BreakingNews.ie
29-05-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Dentist given lifetime ban on owning animals in 'appalling case of animal neglect'
A dentist has been given a suspended prison sentence of four and a half years and a lifetime ban on owning animals after what a judge described as 'one of the most appalling cases of animal neglect' he had ever come across. Karen Saunderson (68), who comes originally from Liverpool with an address in England, pleaded guilty to 10 offences contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, over the condition in which a large number of animals were discovered at the rental property where she lived at Templelusk, Avoca, Co Wicklow, on November 19th, 2016. Advertisement The charges related to causing unnecessary suffering, feeding, neglect and a failure to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. Photo: Collins Lawyers for Ms Saunderson – who is also known as Sanderson – claimed her property was used 'as a drop-off point for certain unwanted animals.' A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday heard an animal welfare inspector and gardaí who visited the living area of the property complained that their eyes were burning from the smell of ammonia from the urine of the animals. A total of 43 dogs, five horses, a pig and a wild boar were found on the property when it was visited by the chief inspector of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Conor Dowling. Advertisement The inspector gave evidence that an overweight pig, which was found squealing and lying on its side in a filthy stable, had to be put down later that day to prevent it from further suffering. Mr Dowling said the animal was unable to get to its feet, had overgrown hooves and no water. He described a terrible stench from other stables where he found 12 dogs living in muck and faeces with no water with some of the animals obviously 'stressed.' Photo: Collins One Mastiff who had a withered leg had to be euthanised a week later. Advertisement Mr Dowling said a German Shepherd, who was discovered to be pregnant, gave birth to a litter of nine pups the following week. Some were deformed, and none survived. However, most of the other dogs and all the horses were successfully rehomed. Mr Dowling told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that he sought assistance from gardaí because of the scale of what he encountered. He outlined how dogs spilled out of the living area of a loft building when the door was opened. Advertisement The court heard a total of 31 dogs, ranging from small puppies to giant breeds, were found in the loft with dog faeces everywhere. 'It was a stressful and chaotic environment,' said Mr Dowling, who believed that a large pool of liquid on the floor was urine from the dogs. 'I could not breathe and it made my eyes burn,' he recalled. A video recording of the scene showed the accused trying to claim the dogs had only urinated when inspectors had knocked on the door. Advertisement Mr Dowling said the accused claimed she walked 30 dogs every day, but he said the evidence indicated otherwise, as many of the animals had overgrown claws. He said one Mastiff had chronic arthritis and could not even make its own way downstairs, while a spaniel could not walk as it had not properly recovered from an old injury. Another dog had to have a toe amputated as it had been gnawing at an exposed bone. Mr Dowling said he did not believe Ms Saunderson was keeping animals commercially, but he found it hard to explain the situation. The inspector said all the horses were underweight and suffering from rain scald and mud fever. He told Judge Patrick Quinn that a decision was taken to remove most of the animals, although the accused was allowed to keep some dogs, to whom she was particularly attached. The judge questioned how the situation was allowed to develop, that both the defendant and her animals were living in such appalling conditions and squalor, without it being reported to the authorities. 'Somebody must have known,' he observed. Mr Dowling replied that he had visited the property on the basis of a 'quite vague' report that gave no sense of the scale of what he subsequently discovered. He pointed out that a vet who called to the property had never been beyond the yard. Photo: Collins However, he remarked that someone passing on the quiet road beside the property could have seen the horses in the field and realised there might be an animal welfare issue. Mr Dowling said the costs in the case were calculated at €12,229 but he believed the true figure was a multiple of that figure. Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Eanna Mulloy SC, the inspector said he was unaware of Ms Saunderson's claim that she was not the owner of all the animals or that she had issues with her landlord about sewage problems on the property. Mr Dowling said he was also unfamiliar that she was meant to be minding animals for a member of the Traveller community. The court heard Ms Saunderson had moved to Ireland in financially strained circumstances for a number of years on a 'career break', while she was the subject of a long-running regulatory matter with the General Dental Council in the UK. Mr Kelly noted that her guilty pleas were only entered in January 2025 to offences committed over eight years ago after she had submitted reports over the intervening years that she was unfit to go on trial. Mr Mulloy said Ms Saunderson had a difficult family background and was someone who was 'easily exploited.' He said the kernel of the problem was that his client was a woman who had a soft spot for animals, who could not cope with the number she had accumulated, but there was a low risk of her re-offending. Sentencing Ms Saunderson to four and a half years in prison and ordering her to pay costs of €15,000, Judge Quinn said it was obvious both she and her animals were neglected and living in 'absolute squalor.' The judge observed he had come across a few other similar cases where someone with a love of animals became overwhelmed by the number of animals they acquired over time. He claimed it was irrelevant that she might have been exploited by others. The judge accepted that her neglect was not intentional but due to her own declining mental state. Ms Saunderson sobbed audibly as she heard the sentence would be fully suspended. Addressing the judge, she remarked: 'Thank you very much. I really am so very sorry.'
The Journal
16-05-2025
- General
- The Journal
Twelve puppies were left for dead in a Carlow woodland, one survived
AN ISPCA INSPECTOR was told there were dead puppies in a woodland in Co Carlow earlier this week, when she arrived at the scene she found the bodies of eleven deceased dogs, but one that survived. Senior Inspector Fiona Conlon made her way through the remote and overgrown woodlands in the Carrigpark, Garryhill area in Co Carlow on Tuesday. She scrambled down a dangerous bank, 'where she discovered what appeared to be several deceased puppies, scattered on the ground', the ISPCA said. 'But, as Fiona got closer, she could hear distressed whimpering from one of the puppies.' The puppy, who was only two or three days old, was found with wounds to her paws and underbelly caused by crawling through the dense undergrowth in the forest. She's been given the name Arya. 'Like the character in Game of Thrones after whom she was named, Arya is a fighter,' a spokesperson for the ISPCA said. Arya was 'very cold and barely breathing'. Inspector Conlon put Arya under her jumper to warm her up, as she gathered the other eleven puppies and checked to see if they were breathing. Advertisement 'Sadly, the others were already deceased.' Arya was rushed to the nearby Barrowvale veterinary practice in Bagnalstown, where she received urgent treatment. The vet took her home to administer round-the-clock care and monitor her overnight. Once the puppy was well enough to travel, she was transferred to the ISPCA's Centre in Wicklow, 'where she has been hand-reared by devoted animal care assistant Linda and is thriving', the ISPCA said. 'It was a shocking sight to witness and not only was it illegal, but it was heartless, cowardly and inhumane, to abandon defenceless newborn puppies who had no hope of survival,' said inspector Conlon. 'We are concerned for the dog who gave birth, she will be grieving her puppies and likely suffering from mastitis,' she added. 'It was bitter-sweet that we were able to save one puppy from a horrendous fate, but its heart-warming to see this little survivor doing so well in ISPCA care. Once she is a little older, we will be seeking a new responsible home for her, where she will be loved and cared for'. Conlon also gave 'huge thanks to the kind-hearted member of the public who discovered the puppies and reached out for help'. The ISPCA has urged dog owners to get their pets neutered or spayed as soon as they are of age in order prevent overpopulation. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
One newborn puppy survives after litter of 12 callously dumped and left to die in Carlow woodland
Arya was the only puppy in the litter of 12 to survive the ordeal. Like the character in Game of Thrones after whom she was named, ISPCA inspectors say that Arya is a fighter. The newborn puppy was rescued after ISPCA Senior Inspector, Fiona Conlon, was alerted to an alleged sighting of a number of dead puppies in the Carrigpark, Garryhill area in Co Carlow on April 8. Inspector Conlon made her way through very remote and overgrown woodlands and scrambled down a dangerous bank, where she discovered what appeared to be several deceased puppies, scattered on the ground. But as Inspector Conlon got closer, she could hear distressed whimpering from one of the puppies. The pup had cuts on her tummy and paws from crawling through the undergrowth, was very cold and barely breathing. Inspector Conlon put Arya under her jumper to warm her up, as she gathered the other eleven puppies and checked to see if they were breathing. Sadly, the others were already dead. Arya was rushed to the nearby Barrowvale veterinary practice in Bagenalstown for urgent veterinary treatment. It was estimated that Arya was only two or three days old. The puppy received round-the-clock care from the vet, who took her home overnight for monitoring. Once well enough to travel, Arya was transferred to the ISPCA's centre in Wicklow, where she has been hand-reared by animal care assistant, Linda, who said the young pup is 'thriving'. 'It was a shocking sight to witness and not only was it illegal, but it was heartless, cowardly and inhumane to abandon defenceless newborn puppies who had no hope of survival,' said Inspector Conlon. "We are concerned for the dog who gave birth, she will be grieving her puppies and likely suffering from mastitis. It was bitter-sweet that we were able to save one puppy from a horrendous fate, but its heart-warming to see this little survivor doing so well in ISPCA care. "Once she is a little older, we will be seeking a new responsible home for her, where she will be loved and cared for. 'Huge thanks to the kind-hearted member of the public who discovered the puppies and reached out for help,' added Inspector Conlon. 'If anyone has any information in relation to the origin of these puppies, please contact the ISPCA's National Animal Cruelty Helpline in confidence on 0818 515 515 or email helpline@
