Man Avoids Jail After Horrific Animal Cruelty Case

A man in County Cork, Ireland, avoided a prison sentence on appeal despite being found guilty of extreme animal cruelty; the judge suspended the sentence after hearing testimony about the appalling conditions in which he kept numerous dogs.

Inspector’s Trauma

Caroline Faherty, an inspector with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), recounted the horrific conditions she discovered during an inspection. She testified at Cork Circuit Appeals Court that the stench from a shed containing an emaciated German Shepherd mother and pups was so overwhelming that she had to repeatedly leave to vomit.

Similar conditions were found affecting Collie puppies also rescued from the property. “I still have nightmares of going into the shed,” said Ms. Faherty.

Original Sentence and Appeal

Prosecution barrister Meg Burke stated that Vasyl Fedoryn, from Ballypierce, Charleville, County Cork, had originally been sentenced to three months in prison at Mallow District Court. He was also fined €500, ordered to pay almost €20,000 in costs, and banned from keeping animals for 15 years.

Paula McCarthy, the barrister representing Mr. Fedoryn, clarified that he was only appealing the custodial sentence, not the other penalties, after pleading guilty to the offenses.

Conditions Described

Ms. Faherty explained that Collies and German Shepherds require exercise and socialization, noting Ms Faherty said collies and German Shepherds are working dogs and need to be exercised and socialised but that in this case, not alone did they not get that but they were left locked up in small sheds without regular food or water and became emaciated, infested with maggots, matted with faeces and in some instances unable to walk.

Sadly, some of the dogs had to be euthanized due to the severity of their condition. Ms. Faherty stated, “He was completely unrepentant, he did not think there was any issue. And he was going to do everything (such as building bigger sheds) but he never did anything.”

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year (ASPCA), highlighting the importance of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership globally.

Judge’s Decision

Judge Boyle, while considering the appeal, remanded Mr. Fedoryn in custody until the afternoon, stating, “They need love, care and attention. They got none of that when they were under his control.”

Ultimately, the judge allowed the appeal against the custodial sentence, imposing a suspended five-month sentence and a 240-hour community service order, while upholding the financial penalties. Judge Boyle told Mr. Fedoryn, “You have spent some time in a prison cell. I felt I had to show you the inside of a prison cell because of what you did.”

Background Details

Evidence presented at Mallow District Court described dogs kept in dark, filthy, rodent-infested pens, with two dogs appearing to have tried digging their way out of a pen lacking water.

The defense argued that the 41-year-old Mr. Fedoryn, an Irish citizen since 2013, did not understand proper animal care and was working long hours to support his family, including sending money to relatives in Ukraine. His solicitor, Denis Linehan, emphasized that his actions were not driven by financial gain and that he was not operating a puppy farm.

Breach of Order

Despite being previously ordered not to keep any animals, Caroline Faherty found multiple cats at Mr. Fedoryn’s property during subsequent visits. Judge Colm Roberts, at the original hearing, warned that even “one little cat or one little mouse” would constitute a breach of bail conditions.

In addition to the prison sentence (later suspended), Mr. Fedoryn was also ordered to pay €16,450.30 to the ISPCA for veterinary and kennel costs, and €3,000 in state legal fees.

Inspector’s Horror

Ms. Faherty described having to break padlocks to enter one shed, and being “horrified at the state of the poor dogs in there,”. “I made the decision I had to seize the dogs and puppies as they were in danger.”

Hens were also kept in unsanitary conditions, and rats were living in the sheds. Although food and bedding were present, they were inaccessible to the animals. Sewers and drains were overflowing.

One dog, who was lactating and therefore needed extra liquids, was so thirsty that when Ms. Faherty gave her water she drank so much that the water had to be removed temporarily out of fear for the dog’s welfare.

Aftermath

Video evidence presented in court showed dogs whimpering in filthy, dark conditions surrounded by excrement. Efforts to rehabilitate the animals cost over €16,450, including intensive nutrition, physiotherapy, and veterinary interventions. Despite these efforts, four dogs had to be euthanized.

Three juvenile collies were so traumatized that they had to be put down weeks after rescue because they remained unapproachable. A young German Shepherd with severely deformed limbs was also euthanized because he could not bear weight as he grew.