A FERMANAGH man has been disqualified from owning or keeping an animal for life after he was charged with mistreating a dog, which had to have its eye surgically removed.
Ron Swoish (67), of Westbridge House in Enniskillen, appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (December 10) to face the charges.
The court heard that, in November 2023, while Swoish was living on the Tempo Road, a Border Collie dog was caused suffer unnecessarily.
The defendent voluntarily suffered the dog, stating that he was ‘no longer able to care’ for the animals.
It was then discovered that an eye of one of the dogs was ‘red and raw’ with a number of legions resulting in vets having to surgically remove the eye.
The dog also had a number of legions on its tongue, with the vet saying that the animal ‘suffered unnecessarily’.
Swoish confirmed that he was the owner of the dog, which has since been successfully rehomed by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
Representing himself before the court, Swoish said that he had ‘nothing to add.’
After reviewing the facts of the case, district judge, Alana McSorley, said that it was ‘clear to me that the injuries [to the dog] should have been obvious to you’.
She sentenced Swoish to two months in custody, suspended for 12 months. He was also disqualified Swoish from owning or keeping animals for life.
Swoish was also ordered to pay £650 for veterinary bills which were covered by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and £190 in legal fees.
