Caused unnecessary suffering to a dog

Ms Victoria Tweed, of the Mountcollyer Road area Belfast, was sentenced at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on March 5.

The charges were brought by Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011. Proceedings followed an investigation by Council’s Animal Welfare Officer who visited Ms Tweed’s previous property under warrant at Garron Park, Portrush, in February 2019. Due to the conditions observed, Officers requested that a vet attended the property.

The dog, now known as Archie, was underweight and was being kept in dirty, unhygienic conditions. The vet certified that Archie should be removed from the property and he was taken into the council’s care. The vet concluded that the dog was suffering and was found to be very hungry when fed at the clinic.

After a month in care, Archie’s weight increased by 60% and was soon rehomed where he has maintained a healthy weight ever since.

Judge King imposed financial penalties totalling £200, plus ordered Ms Tweed to pay £300 towards Council’s costs. She was further disqualified from keeping all animals for five years.

A spokesperson for Council said that they hoped the case would serve “as a warning to anyone who does not take appropriate care of animals”.