Target: Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dublin, Ireland
Goal: Jail the owners who left a collie’s leg stripped to the bone by a heavy tethering chain.
Her name is Peggy, and she is a collie. A heavy tethering chain became tangled around her hind leg. The chain stripped away all the skin, fat and flesh. Only bare, exposed toe bones remained. Imagine the pain of a chain tightening around a living leg. Veterinarians had no choice but to amputate the limb. A husband and wife from County Cork have pleaded guilty. They admitted five breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
An NSPCA inspector and a local dog warden rescued Peggy. The case reached a special sitting of Fermoy District Court on November 3. The court heard devastating forensic evidence about the injury. Judge Colm Roberts reportedly condemned the male owner for attempting to blame the dog. He warned that a mandatory prison sentence awaits when the file is finalized in January.
Peggy has lost a limb for good. A modest fine would insult her suffering. Ireland’s animal welfare laws protect animals only when authorities use them fully. Peggy cannot testify or lobby. Her fate rests with the people who hold power. The Department must ensure that prosecutors pursue a prison term in January. Sign to demand that Peggy’s owners go to jail.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Heydon,
We write about Peggy, a collie whose hind leg was stripped to the bone. Veterinarians had to amputate the limb. Her owners have pleaded guilty to five breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act. The case was heard at Fermoy District Court on November 3.
Judge Colm Roberts condemned the male owner for blaming the dog. He warned of a mandatory custodial sentence. That warning must become reality in January. A sentence that matches the neglect would tell every owner that cruelty carries real consequences. Peggy was chained, injured and failed by her owners.
Your department leads Ireland’s animal welfare policy. We ask you to ensure prosecutors press for a prison sentence. We also ask you to strengthen enforcement so no other dog suffers this way. Animals like Peggy depend entirely on people to care for them. Peggy trusted the people who kept her. Please show her that Irish law protects her. Thank you for acting.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Tony Hisgett
