Woman gets lifetime ban from owning dogs after ‘pure neglect’ case

A TULLOW woman has accepted a lifetime ban on owning dogs after what the ISPCA described in court as a case of “pure neglect” and “lack of care” which led to the death of a Yorkshire Terrier and the severe malnourishment of two others.

Seeta O’Neill, 8 Maple Court appeared before Carlow District Court last week facing eight charges under section 12(1)(a) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013. The ISPCA had initially brought 14 charges, but withdrew six.

Senior inspector Fiona Conlan of the ISPCA gave evidence that she responded to a public call of concern on 29 February 2024. Upon arriving at Ms O’Neill’s residence, she discovered three dogs – one deceased and two in a critical condition.

The deceased dog, Bella, described as “a tiny little Yorkshire Terrier”, was found in an enclosure behind the house. An autopsy conducted at Vetcare in Athy revealed Bella weighed just 0.8kg – well below the minimum healthy weight of 2.5kg for her breed. The veterinary report noted ‘severe muscle wastage’, ‘eyes matted shut’ and that Bella was ‘pathologically underweight’, showing ‘signs of being neglected’ with ‘malnourishment a possible likely factor’ in her death.

The two surviving dogs, a Jack Russell named Jack and a Yorkshire Terrier named Sasha, were found in an emaciated state. Sasha weighed only 1.5kg when she should have weighed at least 3kg and had no teeth, while Jack was described by senior inspector Conlan as “so emaciated I could count the vertebrae on his spine”, with severely swollen anal glands and rotting teeth. Both animals “stank of urine”, according to the inspector.

“Sasha was so thin that when I lifted her up she was just skin and bones,” said Ms Conlan, adding that her hair was impacted with faeces.

The inspector said it appeared that Ms O’Neill initially didn’t know Bella was missing from the enclosure and cried when the dog was found dead, saying she hadn’t seen her in days. Days for which, the inspector noted, that all three dogs wouldn’t have had food or water.

“I was absolutely devastated. I didn’t realise she had died,” Ms O’Neill said of Bella.

Despite her insistence that “we were feeding them”, the inspector noted both surviving dogs gained weight quickly once removed from Ms O’Neill’s care.

Ms O’Neill said: “I don’t understand, they got so much food,” adding that she thought birds were stealing food from the dogs.

“I told her it was in her best interest to surrender the dogs and she did,” said senior inspector Conlan.

It was, according to senior inspector Conlan, a case of “pure neglect” and “lack of care”, adding that, from what she saw, the dogs were “left to die”.

In an interview read in court, Ms O’Neill admitted ownership and responsibility, saying the dogs had been family pets for nearly 20 years. She cited a breakdown in routine around Christmas 2023 due to a number of personal hardships, including postnatal depression, a miscarriage and a friend’s cancer diagnosis.

She said the dogs were kept inside until around three years previously and that they had been family pets. ‘I’m sorry for letting my dogs down,’ said Ms O’Neill, adding: ‘It’s not okay. It’s not acceptable.’ Defence solicitor Chris Hogan told the court they had pictures of the dogs dating back to 2011 to show that they had been cared for in the past by Ms O’Neill, to which the inspector said: “It’s lovely to show me how they used to look, but no good,” adding: “They do look well in those pictures.” The solicitor said his client “went through a crisis” in 2023 “for a number of reasons”.

He went on to outline the breakdown of an eight-year relationship that had “turned violent”, mental health issues, including depression, coping as a single parent and living on part-time income.

Mr Hogan said she “took her eye off the ball” in regard to the dogs but that she is “upset, embarrassed and remorseful”.

Ms O’Neill consented to a lifetime ban on owning dogs under a section 58 order. The ISPCA is also seeking reimbursement of €793.60 for care costs and €1,500 plus VAT for prosecution costs.

Judge Geraldine Carthy adjourned the case to 5 June to allow time for payment to be made.

The surviving dogs, now in their golden years, are with what inspector Conlan described as “a wonderful foster family”, adding that “Bella will never get that chance”.