Ban for man who kept dogs in 'appalling conditions'

Nigel Leonard, of Wattlebridge Road, Newtownbutler, was also sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, when he appeared before  District Judge Austin Kennedy on Friday, May 17.

At a hearing of Strabane Magistrate's Court, Judge Kennedy described the conditions several dogs were found in July 2021 were "appalling" and "disgusting".

Leonard was convicted of a total of 13 charges of animal cruelty, including causing a dog to suffer unnecessarily and failing to ensure the needs of dogs were met. 

Representing Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, which is prosecuting the case, was barrister Peter Canavan. 

Outlining the facts of the case in an earlier hearing, Mr. Canavan said that on July 15, 2021, animal welfare officers were called to a field near Enniskillen, where they observed dogs "locked in tin sheds".

Officers noted a "horrendous, foul smell", and when they returned on July 20, again noted that the smell was "overpowering". 

In one pen, dogs were being kept in a padlocked pen with "rotting meat and offal" on the floor.

The dogs were seen to be walking through rotting meat and faeces. 

A temperature reading of the pen, taken at 11.24am, was 23C, the court heard.

In another pen, a terrier cross-bred and hound-type dog was enclosed in a "small kennel", which was "in complete darkness". The temperature in the pen was 23C. 

In a third pen, a number of dogs were seen walking through rotting meat. The temperature inside was 23C.

One hound-type dog had a vaginal prolapse, which was "5cm in diameter" and "the size of a tennis ball".

Welfare officers removed a total of 12 dogs from the site. 

Later that day, Leonard contacted the Council and confirmed that he was the owner of the dogs.

A disposal order for the dogs was granted on October 13, 2021, and all were rehomed at a cost of £184, and £250 legal costs. 

Mr. Canavan added that the Council was seeking a disqualification order for Leonard as "he is not the proper person to be owning dogs". He added that Leonard currently "owns about 20 dogs".

Representing Leonard on Friday, barrister, Ciaran Roddy, said that the "headline charge" - involving a hound-type dog with a vaginal prolapse - was a case of "passive mistreatment".

"This isn't a case where he was actively abusing," Mr. Roddy said. "He ought to have obtained medical assistance but failed to do so. The animal survived and was operated on. There is no suggestion of any further harm. 

"The principal concern was the lack of water available. The defendant believed there was adequate water shortly before midnight the night before, and was due to attend that location shortly after midday. 

"The dogs had been seized by the time he arrived to replenish the water. One of the sheds was without a water supply; he intended to make water available to them."

During the hearing, Leonard spoke to say that the dogs had "shade, water and adequate food". 

"I have been keeping dogs and farmed horses for years," Leonard said. "I know how to look after dogs."

However, Judge Kennedy disagreed, and described the incident as an "appalling set of facts". 

"The conditions these dogs were kept in was horrendous," the judge said. "I have read the papers and noted the smell of rotting meat, the fact some were kept on in the dark, with very water. Appalling conditions."

Leonard then interjected: "There was a shine on the dog's coat. They are all healthy, pictured jumping up at the wire; happy dogs."

Judge Kennedy responded: "The conditions were appalling, Mr. Leonard. It is disgusting to treat animals like that. 

"My view is that the offences have passed the custody threshold. The conditions the dogs were kept in were quite simply appalling."

Judge Kennedy imposed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. 

Leonard was also banned from keeping animals for three years. He was also ordered to pay rehoming and legal costs of  £184 and £250 respectively.