ISPCA saves skeletal dogs living with dead animals in ‘horrific’ conditions

Four skeletal collie dogs, discovered with dead dogs, were rescued from a property in north Cork in what has been described as a “horrific” case of cruelty.

The ISPCA initially responded to a call regarding a dog being tied up in “dirty conditions”.

However, after a further inspection, Lisa O’Donovan found a number of starving petrified dogs. They were living in filthy conditions and some were also housed with carcasses of other dogs.

The inspector came upon a young female border collie tethered by a chain in a dark shed. The animal was living on her own faeces with no water available to her. The dog was extremely fearful, skeletal, and was tethered.

Further searches of the shed uncovered the remains of three dead collies. One was still chained to a rail and the others were in various stages of decomposition.

A further three skeletal collies were found locked in another area where they were living in their own faeces and muck. In this case also, the animals were sharing their living quarters with another dead collie.

Ms O’Donovan said it was one of the worst cases of dog neglect and abuse that she had discovered.

The location was not disclosed pending continuing investigations.

“It’s horrifying to find animals forced to live like this. Their companion could only have been dead a few days and to think of it dying in the dark with its companions is beyond acceptance,” she said.

The four dogs were removed and admitted to a local veterinary practice. The veterinary assessment confirmed they were clinically emaciated and were just under a year old. All of the dogs were extremely fearful of human contact.

The first collie weighed just 5.5kg and the largest collie weighed just under 10kg.

The ISPCA pointed out that dogs of their age and under normal caring conditions should have weighed in the region of 18kg-22kg. The veterinary opinion was that the lightest dog, without intervention, would more than likely have died within two days.

Ms O’Donovan said the treatment of the animals was a clear-cut case of cruelty.

“The clinical explanation for their condition was starvation and dehydration. That someone would deprive their animals of food and water, such basic needs is cruel,” she said.

“This is an horrendous act of abuse, and although four of the dogs are now in our care, one cannot help but think of the poor dogs that perished.”

The three female and sole male collies are now in the care of the ISPCA National Animal Centre in Longford.

The ISPCA hopes to find new homes for the animals once they have been rehabilitated.

A file for prosecution has also been prepared.