An elderly Cork man has been banned from keeping dogs after an ISPCA inspection discovered a dog on his property with a leg injury so severe it later had to be amputated.
Pat Fouhy, 78, with an address at Ballydaw, Castlelyons, Co. Cork, was convicted of animal cruelty and obstructing authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
Mr Fouhy appeared before Fermoy District Court on April 25, where Judge Colm Roberts issued a fine of €3,000 and disqualified Mr Fouhy from owning dogs for five years.
At a previous hearing on September 20, 2024, the court heard from ISPCA Inspector Caroline Faherty and a private veterinary practitioner. Inspector Faherty told the court that she visited Mr Fouhy’s property on April 13, 2023, after concerns were raised about the welfare of horses on surrounding lands.
When she arrived, she heard a dog crying out in pain. After following the sound, she found a young black Labrador dog limping badly on its front right leg. The dog was clearly in distress, and Inspector Faherty said that the leg appeared to be very swollen.
Inspector Faherty seized the dog on animal welfare grounds. The dog, later named Dubh, was taken to a vet for further assessment.
Dubh was put on pain medication, and X-rays showed that his humerus bone was fractured into several fragments. The scans confirmed that the fracture had been present for at least several days and, due to the severity of the injury, the leg had to be amputated.
On May 11, 2023, Inspector Faherty returned to the property accompanied by Gardaí. She said that the defendant confirmed he was the owner of the injured dog and that, when she told him the extent of the dog’s injuries, he replied: “Sure, put him to sleep.”
Mr. Fouhy subsequently surrendered the dog to the ISPCA. The court heard that, during a later visit to the defendant’s property by Inspector Faherty and a Garda in October 2023, Mr. Fouhy was obstructive and abusive.
Speaking in his own defence, Fouhy argued that Inspector Faherty should not have entered his property and claimed to be an innocent man. Judge Roberts did not agree and convicted the defendant.
On sentencing last Friday, the Judge said that he had given Mr Fouhy the benefit of reflection and change by requesting a probation and welfare report after the initial hearing, but that he had failed to “find any remorse”.