A collie breeder from Co. Cork who was handed down a jail term at a court in Cork in April after dogs were found in "appalling conditions" has had his jail time suspended on appeal.

At Cork Circuit Court of Appeals this week, Vasyl Fedoryn (41), from Ballypierce, Charleville, Co. Cork appealed the severity of a sentence imposed on him for animal cruelty at Mallow District Court on April 1, 2025.

At that time, Judge Colm Roberts described his lack of care for his dogs as “absolutely appalling” and sentenced Fedoryn to three months in jail.

The judge also ordered at the time that Fedoryn pay almost €20,000 in costs and fines, and banned him from keeping any animals for 15 years. 

The court of appeal heard evidence from Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) animal welfare inspector Caroline Faherty who responded to a complaint made to the National Animal Cruelty Helpline from a concerned member of the public on April 21, 2023.  

Fighting back tears, an emotional Inspector Faherty told the court that the case was one of the worst she had dealt with in her career, saying: “I still have nightmares of going into the shed."

She described how she found 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.

Inspector Faherty 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.

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.

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

Inspector Faherty said that 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.   

Inspector Faherty also told how Fedoryn had breached an earlier undertaking to the district court not to keep any animals on his property and said that he was “completely unrepentant” and “did not think there was any issue”.

Having heard the evidence, Judge Helen Boyle remanded Fedoryn in custody while she read reports and deliberated over lunch.

When court resumed, Judge Boyle said that she felt that she had to show Fedoryn the inside of a prison cell, but she thought that a community service order would be better than a short prison sentence.

The judge suspended the five-month custodial sentence in its entirety for one year and ordered that Fedoryn complete 240 hours community service on Saturdays.

She also confirmed the disqualification from owning or keeping any animal for 15 years, the fine of €500, and the order to pay €16,450 rehoming costs for the animals to the ISPCA and legal costs of €3,000 to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Judge Boyle ordered that the costs be paid quarterly over a period of two years and said that if Fedoryn does not complete the required community service, he will go to jail.