Neglected animals cost local council and taxpayers £43,000 over past five years

Neglectful animal owners in Derry have cost taxpayers over £40,000 in the past five years, it can be revealed today.

Since April 2012, following the implementation of a new law, thirty-seven neglected animals have been seized in the city.

Figures released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the Derry News to Derry City and Strabane District Council show that of the animals seized, there were twenty-seven dogs and ten of the ‘equine variety’.

Four of the thirty-seven animals had to be put down after being deemed too badly injured by a vet.

Over the period of 2013-2017, costs accumulated by council for housing/caring of animals that have been seized was £43,730.

Only £3,685 of that sum has been recouped through successful prosecutions, leaving £40,045 outstanding.

The FOI request focused on cases of animal cruelty in the city, so although there may have been successful prosecutions against people from Co. Derry these would not have featured in the figures provided.

The council has an obligation under legislation to enforce the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011 where it applies to non-farmed animals.

This includes domestic pets such as cats, dogs, horses and donkeys.

The Animal Welfare service is funded by Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

A spokesperson for the council said that in the past five years (since April 2, 2012) Animal Welfare Officers have carried out over 2,695 animal welfare inspections in the Western region with over 601 of these in the Derry City and Strabane Council area.

She added: “The powers in the Act allow Council inspectors to take a range of actions to address any animal welfare case to protect animals from unnecessary suffering.

“This includes providing basic advice, giving a warning, issuing a legally binding Improvement Notice or prosecution.

“Maximum penalties applicable to offences committed after 1 August 2016 include on conviction on indictment of five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

“In cases of obvious neglect, an inspector may take into their possession an animal which is suffering, or likely to suffer, following certification by a vet. Since April 2012, there has been thirty-seven animals seized and in prosecution cases where the owner is known, the Council applies to the courts for costs associated with the seizure of the animals.

“However, when an animal is seized and no owner comes forward at the Disposal Order hearing in court, the Council is unable to recoup any costs.”

The spokesperson explained that Derry City and Strabane Council remains committed to its campaign against neglect and cruelty and has been involved in the successful pursuit through the courts of a number of high profile animal welfare cases in recent months.

Since the start of 2017 there have been several successful prosecutions at Derry Magistrates Court against owners who have exposed their dogs to unnecessary suffering and neglect.

In at least three instances, defendants were jailed, banned from owning any animal for life and significant monetary penalties were imposed.

In one court case, a Husky dog died after being found in an ‘extreme state of emaciation’, with a post-mortem proving the dog’s nutritional needs had not been met due to a ‘lack of feeding’.

And in another, a County Derry man was ordered to pay thousands of pounds in veterinary/housing costs when Council seized his injured dogs following a case of suspected badger-baiting.

The council spokesperson believes these prosecutions serve as a warning to anyone who does not take appropriate care of animals.

She concluded: “With over 29,000 animal welfare complaints received by Councils and nearly 90 prosecutions across Northern Ireland over the past five years, Council is confident that the message is getting out there to the public of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of domestic animals.”

Local animal shelters play a vital role in caring for and re-homing animals that have been abused.

Jemma Heath, manager at local animal rescue centre Rainbow Rehoming, said animal cruelty and neglect is unfortunately ‘something that still happens around us every single day, and it is paramount that it is addressed wherever possible.’

In her view, public education is the key to addressing the issue and she advised prospective dog owners to do their research before making the commitment.

She added: “Many people choose to rescue which is brilliant, and this offers animals from shelters such as ourselves a second chance. I would advise anyone seeking to rescue to research breeds, think about your lifestyle, and consider what kind of animal will fit into your life.

“Collie dogs, for example would be the most common in many rescue centres but are hard to find a suitable home as they require a lot of physical and mental stimulation to prevent boredom, which can develop into those behaviours that most people cannot cope with - thorough research is key.

“I feel there is always more that can be done, the more people that are aware of what animal cruelty is then the more eyes there are looking out for it, and the better chance there is that animals’ lives will be improved, and saved.”

Pictured above is a terrier pup who was taken in by the local council after its owner was found to be neglect him.