Dogs at Cork puppy farm were found 'cold, wet, and emaciated' by ISPCA inspector

An ISPCA animal welfare inspector first inspected the facility following an animal welfare call from a concerned member of the public to the ISPCA’s helpline. Picture: ISPCA

Emaciated dogs with coats matted with faeces and urine, including one which appeared “skeletal” when its cement-like coat was shaved off, were found at a Cork puppy farm.

57-year-old farmer William Sheehy and his wife Eleanor, 50, a part-time nurse, originally faced nine animal health and welfare charges each, including causing unnecessary suffering to animals. They pleaded guilty to six charges and three were withdrawn by the State.

The charges followed an inspection at their property at Grange More, Timoleague on March 23, 2023.

Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) animal welfare inspector Caroline Faherty first inspected the facility following an animal welfare call from a concerned member of the public to the ISPCA’s helpline.

She found “filthy kennels” which were “stinking” with a “strong smell of ammonia". Faeces was everywhere, some of which had mould growing on it, indicating that it had been there for some time, Ms Faherty said. 

Some 50 adult dogs and about 22 puppies were at the property, she said.

Dogs had nowhere dry to lie down, bedding was covered in urine, and plastic fish boxes which had been chewed were used as bedding. Water bowls were “all filthy and some were empty” Ms Faherty said. The kennels, in an old piggery, were very cold.

A lot of dogs had obvious health issues such as very matted fur which can lead to skin issues.

Dogs had runny eyes, conjunctivitis, alopecia, matted coats and discharge from their ears. They were underweight, scratching, and some displayed behavioural issues such as spinning around in circles indicating that they had been confined to kennels a lot, Ms Faherty said.

Breeds at the premises included cocker spaniels, poodles, bichon friese, Cavalier King Charles, Bernese mountain dogs, Newfoundlands, Jack Russells and collies. Cross breeds included cockapoos, Cavachons and a terrier cross.

Second inspection 

Ms Faherty arranged to go back to the kennels with Cork County Council’s chief acting dog inspector, the county dog warden, and the council’s veterinary inspector. They carried out a full inspection on March 23, 2023.

“Things were the same” on that date, Ms Faherty said. “I decided after the inspection that I had to remove dogs on welfare grounds."

Although she wanted to remove all the dogs, there was only space to take 14 dogs, so “the worst”, most welfare-compromised dogs were taken. All removed dogs were inspected by a vet who reported that they were all underweight. One Newfoundland bitch was so severely underweight that she looked skeletal when her coat — which was described as “like cement” — was shaved off.

On a subsequent inspection on August 23, 2023, the place was cleaner but Ms Faherty still felt it was lacking for the dogs.

On a subsequent inspection on October 24, 2024, Ms Faherty found less dogs at the kennels. The kennels were now cleaner but she still felt the facilities were lacking and not fit for purpose.

Food was no longer scattered on the ground — meaning feeding was no longer a matter of survival of the fittest. Instead it was now in bowls but it could be there for weeks without being changed, she said.

Ms Faherty said that the dogs were too nervous to check them — a sign of lack of socialisation. "It's an old piggery, its cold, wet, the dogs are in standing water, the bedding was wet in a lot of places," she said.

A lot of these dogs are small house dogs, their pens are cold and wet. There’s no way for these dogs to get dry when they’re wet.

There were no heaters in the main kennels, and just one area with some of the youngest puppies had heaters. The temperature was still colder inside than outside, she said.

The couple were described as “animal lovers at heart” by their solicitor Conrad Murphy in Clonakilty District Court. He said that his clients were distressed by the case and had made efforts to improve the welfare of their animals.

Mr Murphy said in mitigation that the couple acknowledge that there was a slip in standards at the kennel at this time. The Sheehys were worried about the welfare of their dogs, he said. They had called a vet to monitor their health. A vet’s report on the dogs was provided to the court.

They had complied with the inspectors and reduced the number of dogs.

Judge Monika Leech said that the vet’s report given by the defence was “at complete odds” with what was reported from inspections at the kennels.

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Although a guilty plea had been entered, “there seems to be a reluctance to accept the reality of the situation," Judge Leech said. “You either accept the full facts or you don’t,” she said.

Judge Leech adjourned the case until November 7 in Bandon District Court.

The Sheehys are being prosecuted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. They have been accused of failing to adequately feed the dogs to prevent malnutrition and failing to fill their water bowls.

They are accused of causing or permitting the dogs to have coats matted with faeces and urine with matts on the coats pulling on the skin of dogs thereby causing them suffering.

They are also accused of keeping the dogs in pens soiled with urine and faeces and without adequate shelter, bedding or nutrition; and of failing or neglecting to provide any or adequate shelter, heating, nutrition or bedding to dogs, thereby neglecting the dogs or being reckless as to their health and welfare.