Eight great Danes found at the home of a Co Dublin lorry-driver had lost up to half their body weight because of "horrendous" ill-treatment, a court heard yesterday.
Four of the dogs belonging to David Traynor, of Newtown Upper, Rathcoole, had to be put down, while another died later, Dublin District Court was told.
Traynor initially denied there was anything wrong with his dogs when DSPCA inspectors called to his home, the court heard.
Veterinary surgeon Mr Pat McMahon said the dogs had symptoms of malnutrition, including protruding bones, broken teeth, hair loss, swollen feet and pressure bruising. All the animals had fleas and skin problems and were nervous, suggesting they had lost human contact. One dog had no teeth left, while another was almost totally hairless and exposed to the elements, another's eyes were sunken with discharge coming out and the bitches had enlarged mammaries.
Traynor denied eight summonses for cruel ill-treatment at his home last September 16th and said he fed his dogs 4 to 5lbs of meat and three to four bags of bonemeal every day. He said he had been keeping dogs for 17 years and was treating the great Danes for mange.
However, Judge Desmond Windle said it was a "disgraceful" case and convicted the defendant, saying he found it suspicious that he would treat the dogs for mange without reference to a vet.
The judge adjourned sentence to October 28th after hearing there were no previous convictions and said he wanted the defendant to have paid £1,800 to the DSPCA for costs and fees by then.