Larne man who caused dog to suffer unnecessarily was found with more dogs just six days after getting five-year ban on keeping animals
A man breached a ban on having animals six days after it was imposed.
Dillon McCombe has now been given a four months prison term, suspended for two years, and has been banned from keeping any animal for ten years.
The 26-year-old, of Glynn Road in Larne, was at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, on Tuesday.
In Larne on August 11 last year he was in breach of an animal ban. He had been banned from keeping animals on August 5 last year for five years.
On August 5 last year he was sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to a pet. At that court he was was ordered to do 240 hours of Community Service and was banned from having dogs until 2029.
On 18 September 2023 Animal Welfare Officers executed a search warrant at a property and seized Dexter - a Lurcher type dog - who was unable to bear weight on his injured leg and was clearly in discomfort and pain.
The dog was transported to a council appointed vet who assessed the extent of the injury and concluded that Dexter was in considerable discomfort. Scans of the injury confirmed a fracture on the dogs left hind leg. Appropriate treatment was administered.
On 5 February 2024 a judge granted an Order for Dexter and he was successfully rehomed to a new owner via an animal charity. At the court this year McCombe was convicted of breaching the disqualification on having animals.
The charge was: 'Defendant on or before 11th August 2024, at Curran Road and Glynn Road, Larne, you the said defendant, were the keeper of/ participated in the keeping of a Lurcher dog called Vito, a Lakeland Terrier type dog called Tanya, a mixed breed dog called Hazel and a cat named Winnie in contravention of an Order made at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on 5th August 2024 in accordance with the provisions of section 33(1) of the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011 prohibiting you the said Defendant from keeping/ participating in the keeping of animals for five years'.
At Tuesday's court a prosecuting lawyer applied for a Deprivation Order for the dogs.
A defence barrister said another family member now owns the dogs. The lawyer said the dogs are "held dear" by the family members.
The lawyer said it had been a "painful scenario" for the family. She said the defendant lives at the address but is intending to move to England. She asked for a Deprivation Order not to be made.
At Tuesday's Court, District Judge Nigel Broderick granted the Deprivation Order in relation to Vito but did not make any Order regarding Tanya or Hazel.
The defendant had bail fixed in the sum of £500 for appeal against the Deprivation Order regarding Vito.