A pet owner whose emaciated dog was described as a “skeleton on legs” is avoiding jail

“Dog lover” Robert Nugent, of Glenshane Lawn, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty to breaching the Animal Health and Welfare Act by causing unnecessary suffering and failing to provide the lurcher with sufficient food and water.

In addition to the pet ban, which will be reviewed in 2027, Dublin District Court fined him €150 and ordered him to pay costs of €1,845.

He also admitted neglecting his Rottweiler dog during a prosecution brought by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA).

Judge Anthony Halpin heard that DSPCA inspector Bartley Finnerty went to Nugent’s home on November 8, 2022, and found a lurcher and a Rottweiler at the rear of the property.

“The lurcher dog was in very bad shape,” he said. The Rottweiler was fine; it was a good weight, but the problem was the condition of the overgrown garden.

“There was a lot of rubbish in the garden, it was very neglected, there was no shelter.”

“We were very, very worried about the lurcher because you could see his ribs, spine and all the bones sticking out.”

Nugent told the inspector he had had a lurcher for six years.

He explained the condition of the animal, that it had been missing for three or four weeks, but did not report it to either the warden or the rescue services. He claimed he had friends looking for the lurcher who returned the day before the DSPCA inspection.

The court heard he told Mr Finnerty he didn’t take the dog to the vet because he didn’t think he would survive the night. Nugent said the dog felt better the next day, eating and walking.

Nugent said he went out to get dog food and when he returned, he found that the DSPCA had taken it.

He explained that the garden was overgrown and neglected because he was unable to do necessary work due to his arthritis.

The court heard the grass was four feet high and there was rubbish everywhere.

Before and after photos of the lurcher were given to the judge, who commented: “It looks like a skeleton on legs. I couldn’t describe it any other way.”

Finnerty also said it was one of the worst cases he had seen in his career, adding: “I was really surprised the dog was still standing.”

He also expressed “serious concerns” about Nugent having an animal because he did not treat the lurcher and was unable to care for the dogs due to arthritis.

The vet’s report shows that the dog was emaciated, but after starting the feeding program he gained weight and is now in excellent condition.

However, the court heard that this caused anxiety and severe weight loss due to starvation caused by lack of food.

The vet said the situation had lasted much longer than 24 hours. The prosecutor’s office also argued that the animal suffered unnecessarily and that it should have been obvious to the owner that it required veterinary care.

Nugent donated the dogs to the DSPCA, which incurred significant costs for their treatment and care.

The judge also noted that he had no previous convictions for similar offenses and was left with one dog when his lurcher and rottweiler breeds were taken away.

Yesterday/today (Wednesday) William Maher BL of the DSPCA applied for an order under Section 58 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act disqualifying Nugent from owning or controlling an animal for life.

Through his lawyer, Nugent pleaded with the court not to impose a ban.

The defense lawyer said Nugent raised his hand against the crime but was attacked by locals when the earlier stage of the case was publicized in the media. The attorney said Nugent was a dog lover, but his mother was dying at the time and he wasn’t focused on his dog.