Target: Liam Conneally, Chief Executive, Galway County Council, Galway, Ireland
Goal: Identify and prosecute any responsible parties for dumping two emaciated puppies crawling with maggots, and impose lifetime animal-ownership bans plus full restitution.
Two tiny puppies, roughly five to six weeks old, were abandoned in a field and described as emaciated, dehydrated, and cold. Rescuers observed fly eggs matted in their fur, with maggots already burrowing under skin, inside mouths, and in back passages. A kind passerby brought the pups to Galway SPCA, where an emergency dash to a vet began. As stated by rescuers, another 24 hours could have meant death while larvae continued eating live flesh.
The incident follows a spate of sick litters reaching local shelters in recent weeks. Volunteers described late-night triage, smoke-blue exhaustion, and the grim task of watching vets remove live maggots from fragile bodies. Such details point to deliberate abandonment or reckless neglect that left neonate animals without food, warmth, or treatment.
Clear accountability deters copycats and protects vulnerable animals. Authorities should pursue every charge supported by evidence under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, counted per victim, and seek court-ordered bans on ownership or control of animals for any responsible parties. Restitution should cover veterinary bills and shelter costs. Public reporting of outcomes, plus targeted enforcement against puppy dumping hot spots, can reinforce deterrence and support already strained rescues. This petition calls for swift investigation, prosecution, and penalties that match the cruelty.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Chief Executive Conneally,
We are deeply concerned by reports that two very young puppies were dumped in a field while emaciated, dehydrated, and infested with fly eggs and maggots. Rescuers state larvae had already invaded soft tissue, including mouths and back passages, and that a delay of even one day might have proved fatal.
We respectfully urge Galway County Council’s Veterinary Services to coordinate with An Garda Síochána and the ISPCA to identify those responsible, secure all relevant evidence (including field images and veterinary findings), and pursue every applicable charge under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. We further ask that prosecutors seek maximum lawful penalties, lifetime bans on owning or keeping animals, and restitution that repays veterinary and shelter costs.
To prevent recurrence, please publish enforcement outcomes and establish targeted surveillance and outreach at known dumping sites, alongside a public reporting channel with rapid response. Visible, proportionate action will protect animals, support rescuers, and signal that abandonment and extreme neglect carry serious consequences.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Nothing Ahead
