Woman who went to live with mother left dog to starve

A judge has described as “appalling” a student who left her dog to starve – while she went to live with her mother.

Natalie McGranaghan appeared at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged with cruelty to an animal.

DPSCA Inspector Kevin McGinley told Judge Paul Kelly that he went to McGranaghan's rented home at Leitir Ard, Letterkenny, on March 12th last year after reports a dog had been abandoned there.

He returned two days later and again heard a dog and decided to call Gardaí, who forced entry into the property.

Inspector McGinley said he could hear a dog inside the property, but could not see one. He left a note at the house asking the occupant to contact him. Inside the house he found an emaciated terrier dog.

A bucket filled with water had been left beside the dog, but it was unable to drink from it as it was too tall for the pup to reach.

“The dog was in a poor state,” McGinley told the court. “Its backbone was protruding and its ribs were prominent.”

He traced the owner Natalie McGranaghan to her mother’s home, but she had claimed she had sold the dog. She later admitted she hadn’t, but claimed she had fed the dog two days earlier.

Judge Paul Kelly remarked that “this was an appalling thing to do to an unfortunate defenceless animal”.

The judge adjourned sentencing until July 16th, to allow McGranaghan time to pay €400 in veterinary bills.

The dog has since made a full recovery.