AN emaciated Springer Spaniel that was found wandering in Enniskillen with an open wound infested with maggots had been suffering for a number of months and later had to be humanely destroyed, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

A vet who examined the animal described it as “one of the worst cases” she had come across in her 27-year professional career.

In court on Monday, the dog’s owner, Deirdre Young, of Derrin Road, Enniskillen, with a previous address at Rossole Park, received a suspended jail sentence and was banned from keeping animals for five years.

At an earlier hearing, she had pleaded guilty to causing the brown and white Springer Spaniel type dog to suffer unnecessarily at Rossole Park, Enniskillen on June 20, 2016.

The prosecution was brought by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

A lawyer acting on behalf of the Council told the court that the Animal Welfare Service (AWS) received a call from the dog warden about a stray Springer Spaniel that had been taken to a local veterinary clinic for treatment.

The dog was microchipped, allowing for its owner to be traced. The AWS attended the vets and found the dog to be in “poor body condition” with an open wound on its neck.

The dog’s nails were so overgrown that they had curled into the pads on its feet and maggots were present in its ears and back end, the court heard.

The vet carrying out the examination said that, in her 27 years as a vet, it was one of the worst cases in her professional career. The dog, which was described as “emaciated”, was so depressed that it could not stand.

The examining vet confirmed the presence of maggots in the dog’s ears, and discharge from both eyes. She also noted a wound along the neck which was also “heavily infested” with maggots.

The dog had not been groomed or dematted in at least three to four months.

The vet was of the opinion that the dog had been suffering for many months and recommended that it be humanely destroyed, the court heard.

The dog warden subsequently spoke to the defendant’s partner and informed him that, due to its condition, the animal had to be euthanised. He alleged that, prior to the dog’s seizure, it had been missing for six weeks and had “only just turned up”.

A Post Mortem report confirmed the dog was underweight and the conditions experienced by the dog were as a result of a period of neglect in obtaining appropriate veterinary treatment for the animal.

Young was invited for interview on three occasions, but failed to attend. Attempts were made to contact her via telephone, the court heard.

Defending counsel, Ciaran Roddy, conceded that the photographs taken of the animal made for “grim” viewing. The barrister said the dog was 13 years old when it was put down and it had been with his client since it was a pup.

Mr. Roddy told the court that, prior to moving to Enniskillen, the animal was kept on a two-acre site in County Leitrim where it had been “free to roam”.

The barrister said that he was instructed that, previously, the dog had been regularly groomed. He revealed that, eight months prior to this incident, the animal had been taken to the same vet and no concerns were raised.

Explaining what had happened, Mr. Roddy said that the defendant had been dealing with “very difficult personal circumstances”. He added that she had been “overwhelmed” and found it difficult to cope.

In mitigation, the barrister said that his client had a previously clear criminal record and was a single mother with two children. “It’s quite clear she should not have had an animal in her care,” he admitted.

After viewing photographs of the dog, district judge Michael Ranaghan observed that it was “certainly one of the worst cases I have had the displeasure to deal with”.

The judge said that the animal had “suffered immensely” and had to be put down.

Taking into account that the defendant was a single mother with two children, Mr. Ranaghan imposed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He also disqualified her from keeping animals for a five-year period. Meanwhile, the judge also ordered Young to pay a £100 fine, a £15 offender levy, court costs of £35, legal fess of £200 and vet fees of £48.

After the sentencing hearing, a spokesperson for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said that the local authority operated a “rigorous enforcement policy” to ensure full compliance of regulatory requirements in terms of the welfare of domestic pets and horses.

“Complaints are investigated thoroughly and where necessary formal action is taken, which may include the service of Improvement Notices or, in extreme cases, the seizure of animals. The Council may also prosecute for offences as has been the case in this instance.”