Some 25 dogs are due to be put down next week if their owner fails to convince a court there is no need to do so.
Ms Donna Sfar, who buys only Scottish terriers, West Highlands and Cairns, was deemed in the District court to have breached the 1986 Control of Dogs Act due to the condition of her dogs. Mr Kevin Brophy, her solicitor, told Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns yesterday that the District Court had considered her an unfit person to keep dogs and disqualified her from keeping any dog for five years.
She appealed to the Circuit Court and, although the disqualification was doubled, she succeeded in convincing Judge Jacqueline Linnane there was no need for a "death warrant". Mrs Sfar's vet had told Judge Linnane the dogs were not mistreated and the facilities for looking after them were acceptable. Nine days later on July 30th last, and with two days notice to Mrs Sfar, an order was made for the disposal of the 25 dogs by way of humane destruction. Yesterday Mr Justice Kearns granted Mrs Sfar an injunction restraining the destruction of the dogs, which had been due to take place yesterday evening. He heard she wanted to produce expert evidence that there was no need to destroy the dogs, for which new homes can be found.
Mrs Sfar was granted leave to legally challenge the destruction order, on the grounds she had been given insufficient notice and deprived of an opportunity to make alternative arrangements for the placing of the dogs that may have been acceptable to Judge Linnane.
Mrs Sfar, of St Bronagh's, Lisdoo, Co Louth, has a week to prepare her case.
After the hearing yesterday, Ms Sfar said she had a passion for Highland terrier breeds which, she said, are often sold by their owners because of their susceptibility to eczema-like skin rashes.
She said she spent much of her public-service pay buying unwanted dogs and paying for their veterinary care.
"They are like children to me. My whole life revolves around them," she said after the court hearing. "I don't collect strays. I have bought these unloved pets for £60 to £100 each and I have handed over £100 for a single veterinary operation on one of them."