Waterford woman given suspended sentenced and banned for life from keeping animals

A 63-year-old County Waterford woman has been given a four month suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping animals for life after the discovery of 70 dogs in her possession.

Sandra Hennessy (63), of Dunmoon, North Tallow, County Waterford, came before Judge John O'Leary at Dungarvan District Court on Friday for sentencing having pleaded guilty to 22 summonses under the Animal Welfare Act, of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs at her former address at Dyrick, Ballinamult, Co. Waterford, on dates between July 23, 2024, and February 28, 2025. The offences were contrary to Sections, 11, 12 and 13 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

Prosecuting Counsel, Brian Kearney, BL, told the court that the accused had entered a guilty plea to 22 summonses before the court, while there were 70 dogs involved.

A Senior Animal Welfare Inspector with the NSPCA told the court of having first visited the house of Sandra Hennessy on July 23, 2024, as the result of an animal welfare concern.

On first arrival she met Sandra Hennessy, who at first said there were 29 dogs, but on inspection there were up to 79. About 20 of the dogs were in the house, with the remainder in outhouses in makeshift pens and cages, with the bedding made up of cardboard boxes, including plastic boxes. The sheds were extremely dark, the dogs were quite dirty while the pen doors were closed. Thirty dogs were in a small area in a shed, in separate and small kennels.

The breed of the dogs were a small terrier mix, some yorkshire terriers, and while the dogs were being fed they had ear infections, eye infections and respiratory conditions.

The Animal Welfare Inspector told of a lurcher dog being wrapped in a blanket with women's sanitary towels wrapped over the dog's body. Having looked at the dog and removing one of the sanitary towels, the dog had horrendous wounds down to the bone.

Having found access to 59 other dogs, some were heavily pregnant, with one dog heavily pregnant. When she went in, there were puppies and the mother in a bath and another pregnant female. There were other pregnant females also elsewhere on the property.

The lurcher dog, she added, had some horrific injuries which came under the Animal Welfare Protection Act. 

Later having had other sanitary towels removed, the dog was later utinised, for having moved the dog one could witness the shoulder bone and other bones.

On July 30, some 34 dogs were removed from the house, while on August 29, a further 21 dogs were removed, with the dogs coming under the care of the Dogs Trust, with some of poor weight and suffering chronic ear infections. Following those dates she had retained 10 dogs at her new address, she being told she had to reduce the number of dogs.

Replying to Mr. Kearney, BL, the Animal Welfare Inspector said that given the severity of the case, along with the animal welfare issues, the dogs having gone through extreme suffering, she believed there should be some form of disqualification. The costs, including veterinary, x-rays and other costs to the ISPCA, came to €5,582.

Defence Counsel, Sara Jane Comerford told the court there was not a puppy farm enterprise involved, it was not a case of buying and breeding and selling, it was a gathering of dogs.

Ms Comerford said Ms Hennessy was living in the house while there were dogs in each room.

Replying to Ms Comerford, the Animal Welfare Inspector said the lurcher dog was in a real tragic condition.

A number of pictures of the dogs in the house were produced to Judge O'Leary, while pictures of the 10 dogs at their current address were also produced to the court.

Replying to Ms Comerford, the Animal Welfare Inspector also told of some of the dogs having body sores and it was hard for her to get past some of the welfare issues.

Ms Comerford said the accused is a single lady who accepts dogs into her home, while she did not have them neutered, with the result it got out of hand.

"This morning she was quite emotional in court at having let this happen. She let the dogs down and found it quite hard to talk about it,' said Ms Comerford.

Ms Comerford said there had been learnings and accepts she can not have any more than 10 dogs, knowing she is not in a position to care for any more. She said there were a number of options open to the court regarding sentencing and that in respect of the expenses there was no real prospect of meeting them currently.

Judge O'Leary said that having heard the facts this is a very serious case. He said he would impose four month sentences on each of the 22 summonses before the court, to run concurrently, suspending the sentences for one year.

Judge O'Leary said he would also impose a lifetime ban under Section 58 of the Animal Welfare Act of keeping any animals, while he also ordered that the 10 dogs currently at her property be removed immediately. He gave no order as to costs.

Recognizances of €200 were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme