Woman tried to take dogs from pound

A woman who forced her way into a dog pound after trying to take back two dogs she had left in for rehoming has been ordered to pay €300 to the IPSCA.

Fitness instructor Esther O’Kane visited the Letterkenny Dog Pound in Co Donegal demanding that two dogs she had left off days previously be returned to her.

However, staff told her that she did not have licenses for the dogs and they could not be handed over to her.

Ms O’Kane, aged 23, then burst her way into pens at the pound, took possession of one of the dogs and rushed through to some other pens calling the dog wardens “scumbags”.

The court heard that Ms O’Kane was fitted with a ‘Go Pro’ camera and was recording the entire incident.

Ms O’Kane was locked into the pens after the door was closed behind her and gardaí were called.

She was charged with entering a building with intent to committing an offence and also criminal damage.

Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client was concerned for the safety of the animals she had left off two days prior to the incident.

He said one of the dogs was injured and Ms O’Kane feared the animal would not have been rehired but destroyed.

Judge Paul Kelly said there was a particular mindset when Ms O’Kane entered the building with a camera and described the overall incident as “bizarre.”

Mr Gallagher said his client had never been before the court in her life and had done a lot of good work of animal welfare charities and for the Donegal Hospice.

Judge Kelly ordered Ms O’Kane of Cavanacor House, Lifford, to pay €300 to the ISPCA and adjourned the case until May 9.