National: Woman disqualified for life from keeping animals as they're found to be in 'profound mental anguish'

On Wednesday, May1 of this year, Helen Evetts of St Ailbes Drive, Tipperary Town appeared before Judge Cephas Power at Tipperary District Court (sitting in Nenagh) facing five charges relating to the care of dogs and failing to have them microchipped.

ISPCA Senior Inspector Emma Carroll gave evidence to the court of calling to the defendant’s home on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 and finding four dogs living in deplorable conditions.

The dogs were confined in pens that were covered in large amounts of faeces, mud, and dirt.

The shelters provided for the dogs were also unsuitable with mud and dog faeces covering the inside of the kennels.

In addition, the dogs were visibly thin and had no access to food or clean drinking water. Their coats were contaminated with urine and faeces and two of the dogs were heavily matted.

All four dogs were seized under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA), and a subsequent veterinary examination found all to be severely underweight.

They also had skin conditions and advanced dental disease that, for one of the dogs, required emergency dental treatment.

Judge Power asked Senior Inspector Emma Carroll in what way their neglect affected the dogs.

Ms Carroll highlighted that not only did the neglect, starvation and poor living conditions result in the physical problems of rotting teeth, skin issues and severe emaciation, but the neglect also inflicted profound mental anguish.

She said that this was evident through the dogs’ aggression, fearfulness, and stereotypies such as spinning and excessive pacing. She said that it was evident from what she observed these dogs had been neglected for a considerable period of time.

On passing sentence Judge Power commented that the evidence “was difficult to listen to“ and said that the photographs presented by Senior Inspector Carroll were some of the worst he had seen in his time on the bench.

He imposed a lifetime disqualification on any animals being kept by Ms Evetts or at her property, sentenced her to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered that she pay over €3,700 in costs.

In addition, Ms Evetts was instructed to hand over two Chihuahuas currently in her possession.

Speaking after the case Senior Inspector Carroll said: "The suffering these animals endured echoes far beyond the confines of their physical form.

"Compassion for animals is not only a moral duty but a legal obligation, neglect and cruelty have no place in our society. I extend my gratitude to the person who reported this abuse.

"Let’s continue to stand together against cruelty and encourage others to speak up for those who cannot."