A DOG owner has been warned that he must pay a €3,000 fine by July 2 or face having all of his dogs confiscated by the dog warden.
Noel Moran of Carrowbrinoge, Snugboro, Castlebar, appeared before last week’s sitting of Westport District Court where an application was made by the dog warden to prevent him from owning dogs in the future due to his failure to control his Labrador, Husky and two German Shepherds.
While the application was denied by Judge Mary Devins, she imposed a €3,000 fine on Mr Moran and warned him that failure to pay the fine would result in the confiscation of the dogs.
Last month, the court heard evidence from the dog warden, Laura Mulligan, that Mr Moran had failed to pay previously issued fines for failing to control his dogs. Even after Mr Moran was issued with summonses for failing to control his dogs, Ms Mulligan witnessed the dogs on the public road and received reports about the dogs being on the loose.
Mr Moran was convicted in his absence of failing to control his dogs and not having dog licences. A warrant was issued for his arrest after the solicitor for Mayo County Council asked Judge Devins to consider a custodial sentence.
When Mr Moran appeared before last week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court, he was warned to pay €500 in fines at the next day’s sitting of Westport District Court.
Application
When he appeared before this court, Judge Devins was informed that Ms Mulligan was seeking an application to prevent Mr Moran from holding similar dogs in the future and for his remaining dogs to be removed from his premises.
Ms Cathy McDarby, solicitor for Mr Moran, said the Husky had been rehomed but he still had the Labrador and two German Shepherds.
Judge Devins felt the application to prevent him from owning dogs in the future was ‘extreme and draconian’, but Ms Mulligan said that the dog warden’s office had been receiving complaints about Mr Moran’s dogs for years.
Ms Mulligan said that while the dogs were looked after, Mr Moran was incapable of keeping them under control.
Ms McDarby said her client had gotten a wake-up call after he was threatened with jail, and she asked Judge Devins to allow Mr Moran time to prove his bona fides. She said his daughters adored the dogs and asked for one more chance.
Judge Devins reiterated that an order preventing Mr Moran from owning dogs was extreme considering there was no suggestion the animals were badly treated.
However, she said she would impose hefty fines. When asked if he would pay the fines to keep his dogs, he replied that he had no choice.
