A couple from Co. Kildare are not permitted to keep dogs for five years after animal welfare inspectors called at their home and found a Shih Tzu and struggled to make out its face, such was the matted and overgrown condition of its coat.
ISPCA Inspector James McCormack gave evidence of calling to the defendants’ home on Monday November 28, 2022 in response to a report received. Inspector McCormack spoke with Ms Ellis and was shown two dogs. One was a Shih-Tzu type dog in a yard at the back of the house without access to food or water. The dog’s coat was badly matted, and it was underweight.
Inspector McCormack later conducted an interview under caution with Stephen Crawford at which time he took responsibility for the care of both dogs. Speaking about the case, Inspector McCormack said: “This was a case of wilful neglect to two dogs that were left in a yard and ignored. This led to severe weight loss and filthy conditions, with the most basic requirement of food and water ignored.