In addition to paying legal fees, vet fees and court costs amounting to £369 Mr Vaughan was given a conditional discharge of two years by the Magistrate.
Mr Vaughan was convicted under Section 4 of the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011 for the offence of causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs, a Doberman type and Husky type. The charges date back to September 2023 when the Animal Welfare Officer was alerted to concerns by the council Enforcement Officers who had taken possession of the two dogs.
Both dogs had visible hip and rib bones and their spine could be clearly seen.
The council’s vet was called and certified that both dogs were suffering after an examination.
Subsequent to the investigation the two dogs were taken to a local animal sanctuary where they were nursed back to full health and have since been rehomed!