A collie breeder has been handed down a jail term following a case where dogs were found to be held in "appalling" conditions in Co. Cork.

At Mallow District Court this week, Judge Colm Roberts sentenced 41-year-old Vasyl Fedoryn from Ballypierce, Charleville, Co. Cork, to three months in jail, ordered that he pay almost €20,000 in costs and fines, and banned him from keeping any animals for 15 years.

The sentence was handed down after the judge described his lack of care for his dogs as “absolutely appalling”.

Fedoryn had pleaded guilty in court earlier this year to nine breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, in relation to dogs he was breeding at his home.

The court heard evidence from animal welfare inspector with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), Caroline Faherty, who responded to a complaint made to the National Animal Cruelty Helpline from a concerned member of the public.

Inspector Faherty told the court that she discovered 13 collies and German Shepherds, 12 of which were pups, living in horrendous conditions in dark, filthy sheds, and without access to water.

They had no bedding, and their coats were matted with faeces. It was clear that rats were also living in the shed, having burrowed through piles of dirt, the court heard.

The inspector outlined told how she had to break padlocks to get into one of the sheds and said the “horrific” conditions were some of the worst she had faced and would stay with her forever. 

An immediate decision was made to seize all the dogs and, as they were being removed, the full extent of the conditions became clear.

An emotional Inspector Faherty told the court how the smell was so putrid and stomach turning that she repeatedly retched and had to leave the sheds for air.

She explained that she had to change into rubber boots and oilskins to enter the sheds as there were faeces and sewage everywhere.  

Three German Shepherd pups could not walk properly due to being malnourished and confined. They had no muscle mass in their legs and were walking on their back knees, according to the ISPCA.

Inspector Faherty described some of the collies as feral and “extremely nervous”, which made it very difficult to get near them.

Inspector Faherty said: “a lack of stimulation had resulted in the collie dogs being so nervous, that they were feral and tried to bite her”.

Fresh drinking water was provided for a lactating German Shepherd who was feeding four pups, and she was so thirsty that the water had to be temporarily removed out of fear for the dog’s welfare. Videos of the scene were played in court.  

The court also heard that although every effort was made to rehabilitate the dogs with veterinary interventions, high-level nutrition, and physiotherapy, four of the dogs had to be euthanised based on veterinary advice.

These included a young German Shepherd whose limbs were so deformed he could not bear any weight as he grew, and three of the feral collie dogs that did not respond to rehabilitation efforts and were in constant fear and distress.   

After hearing the evidence at the January hearing, Judge Colm Roberts commented to Inspector Faherty that, aside from the animals being traumatised, it appeared clear that the Inspector had been traumatised herself. Inspector Faherty confirmed that was the case.  

Judge Colm Roberts was told in court this week that the accused man had breached an undertaking to the court not to keep any animals on his property.

Barrister for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Meg Burke, said a probation report on the accused was “somewhat concerning” as it revealed he had sought to minimise the harm he had done to the dogs, and had very little insight into his offending.

While the probation report found that Fedoryn was at a low risk of reoffending, she said the department took a different view as ISPCA Inspector Faherty had visited his home on two occasions and found he was still keeping cats – in breach of the undertaking he gave not to keep any animals.

Judge Roberts acknowledged that the accused had no previous convictions but said the level of cruelty to the animals was significant and that he was worried by the accused’s lack of insight into his offending.

The judge said: “His neglect of these animals was absolutely appalling – he seems to have no regard for other sentient beings."

He sentenced Fedoryn to five months in jail with two months suspended, fined him €500, ordered him to pay €16,450 rehoming costs for the animals to the ISPCA and legal costs of €3,000 to DAFM.

He also disqualified Fedoryn from owning or keeping any animal for 15 years.