A pet owner has been jailed over "harrowing" neglect of her Jack Russell dog who had an untreated tumour "the size of a huge grapefruit" which ruptured, leaving it fighting for its life.
Martina Kelly of Ballyfermot Avenue, Kylemore, Dublin 10, received a six-month sentence with the final two suspended for not obtaining treatment for her family pet, Lucky.
Ms Kelly pleaded guilty to charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act at Dublin District Court, where Judge Anthony Halpin described the case as shocking, adding, "I would have picked it up, even if I had to walk ten miles, I would have brought it to the vet".
"This is a shocking case; this poor animal must have been in severe pain, and I don't believe it when Ms Kelly tells me that this was a couple of weeks to eight weeks.
"This dog was going around with a growth the size of a huge grapefruit; she had to be aware of the pain and suffering this poor animal went through," Judge Halpin added.
The Department of Agriculture prosecuted the mother of three for causing unnecessary suffering, endangering and failing to safeguard the welfare of 10-year-old Lucky, which she had taken in as a stray eight years ago.
Prosecutor Sarah Reid BL told the court it was a harrowing case due to the level of neglect of the dog, which began bleeding heavily on 28 October last year.
Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) inspector Shane Lawlor informed the court he investigated the circumstances three days later after a call from Ms Kelly offering to surrender the dog.
A DSPCA ambulance went to the house and found Lucky had a large growth, which had ruptured.
Injury ranked as 'extreme'
The court was told the dog was bleeding, unresponsive and lethargic.
Mr Lawlor ranked the injury as "extreme" and suspected it had developed over a long period while the dog was suffering.
Ms Kelly told the DSPCA that her dog had the growth for "the last few months", while another witness told the officer that Lucky had the growth for weeks.
The court heard she insisted that she had not taken it for treatment because she could not get an appointment with a vet over the bank holiday weekend.
Ms Reid asked what services were available when animal owners were of limited financial means, the inspector said the DSPCA provided heavy discounts and Ms Kelly declined offer of transportation after she made contact.
He said that various clinics were working year-round.
The charity collected the dog for free, which would have been available at any point, he believed that due to the longevity of the problem, the accused caused unnecessary suffering and endangered the dog's life.
The animal welfare charity's veterinary surgeon, Elise O'Byrne White, said the dog, unable to stand and in a critical state, had to be carried into the DSPCA's hospital.
Dr O'Byrne White said that analysis of the tumour tissue indicated it was "slow growing", which she estimated had developed for at least six months and ruptured due to its size.
She agreed with the defence that different vets had varying fees, but treatment should have cost about €130 because it was a standard procedure.
Lucky recovered and was later rehomed.
The court heard Ms Kelly maintained that she and other family members made repeated efforts to get help from veterinary practices but got no response.
She told the judge she did not have a car and a taxi would not take them because the dog was bleeding.
Ms Kelly said she then contacted the DSPCA, pleading for help. Ms Kelly's barrister submitted that she had done everything she could.
Judge Halpin agreed with the prosecution that there had to be a severe penalty but said the sentence had to have a discount due to the guilty plea.
