The two dogs left in squalid conditions at the house in Raphoe.
BREAKING NEWS: A Raphoe woman has been banned from keeping dogs for two years after two dogs were found in horrific conditions in her back garden.
Louise Gallagher appeared at Letterkenny District Court today charged with two cases of cruelty to dogs.
The dogs, named Mitch and Samson, were found in their own excrement, were covered in sores and were drastically underweight.
Feeding bowls found in the yard were empty.
Ms Gallagher claimed the two boxer dogs had belonged to her former partner Dean Kelly.
MItch and Samson were close to death according to ISPCA staff.
However Kelly moved out in September, 2013 and the dogs were found by ISPCA officers in horrific conditions four months later.
ISPCA Inspector Kevin McGinley said had the dogs been left in the yard at 2 Meadow Hill, Raphoe, and longer, they may well have died.
“The dogs were in horrific condition and had they had been left at this address any longer, they could have died from neglect,” he said.
Ms Gallagher pleaded guilty to two charges of cruelty to dogs through her solicitor Frank Dorrian.
Mr Dorrian said Ms Gallagher did not have the financial means to keep the dogs and had no plans to get any dogs in the future.
A vet who inspected the dog revealed that in her 27 years of practice, she had rarely seen young dogs in such an emaciated state.
Mitch was vastly underweight and covered in sores when found.
The ISPCA applied to the court for the €652 vet and rehabilitation costs for the two dogs.
Judge Kelly adjourned the case until June 18th to allow for the costs to be paid and banned Ms Gallagher from keeping dogs for two years.
ISPCA Inspector McGinley appealed to people to contact animal welfare agencies if they cannot cope with the upkeep of dogs or any other animals.
“We appreciate that with the current financial downturn some people are finding it difficult to look after animals.
“We would appeal to those people to contact the relevant agencies at an early stage so we can assist them,” he said.
Mitch and Samson have made a full recovery since their ordeal and have now been re-homed in Co. Meath.
Samson was also underweight and neglected.
