A women has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to her Rottweiller type dog in a case brought by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
Ms Victoria Tweed, of the Mountcollyer Road area in Belfast, was sentenced at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Friday 5th March 2021.
The charges were brought against Ms Tweed by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011.
Proceedings followed an investigation by Council’s Animal Welfare Officer who visited Ms Tweed’s previous property under warrant at Garron Park, Portrush in February 2019. Due to the conditions observed, Officers requested that a vet attended the property.
The dog, now known as Archie, was underweight and was being kept in dirty, unhygienic conditions. The vet certified that Archie should be removed from the property, and he was taken into the council’s care. The vet concluded that the dog was suffering, and was found to be very hungry when fed at the clinic.
After a month in care Archie’s weight increase by 60%, and was soon after rehomed where he has maintained a healthy weight ever since.
Judge King imposed financial penalties totalling £200, plus ordered Ms Tweed to pay £300 towards Council’s costs. She was further disqualified from keeping all animals for 5 years.
Commenting on the case a spokesperson for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said:
Council gives a high priority to the welfare of domestic pets and operates a rigorous enforcement policy to ensure full compliance of regulatory requirements. Complaints are investigated thoroughly and where necessary formal action is taken, which may include the service of Improvement Notices, or in extreme cases, seizure of animals. The Council may also prosecute for offences such as in this case which we hope serves as a warning to anyone who does not take appropriate care of animals”.
