A dog breeder from County Cork has been warned he could face a prison sentence after pleading guilty to multiple charges of animal cruelty, following the discovery of deplorable conditions at his property that led to the euthanasia of several animals.
Vasyl Fedoryn, a 41-year-old Ukrainian national residing in Ballypierce, Charleville, pleaded guilty to nine breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which involved the mistreatment of dogs he was breeding on his property. The charges stemmed from an incident on April 21, 2023, when inspectors from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) uncovered severe neglect.
ISPCA Animal Welfare Inspector Caroline Faherty described the conditions she encountered as the worst she had ever seen. Upon entering two sheds on Fedoryn’s property, she found dogs and pups confined in total darkness, without bedding, and forced to lie in their own waste. The animals appeared severely malnourished, and some could barely walk due to lack of muscle development.
In one shed, an adult German Shepherd and four pups were found without water. When Faherty provided water, the adult dog consumed it so rapidly from dehydration that she had to remove the bowl to prevent further harm. In another shed, three German Shepherd pups and five Collie pups were discovered in similarly distressing conditions—dirty, matted coats, and aggressive behavior due to extreme fear, making them almost feral.
Among the most heartbreaking discoveries were the three German Shepherd pups, who could not walk properly due to malnourishment, instead attempting to move on their back knees. Faherty described the scene as “absolutely horrific,” recounting the overpowering stench of urine and faeces that caused her to retch.
Following the discovery, ISPCA officials seized the animals and took them into care, but the trauma was too much for some. Three Collie pups were so feral that they could not be rehabilitated and were euthanized, along with one German Shepherd.
Faherty also revealed that, despite the availability of food and bedding on the property, Fedoryn had failed to provide basic care to the dogs. When questioned about this, Fedoryn claimed he intended to provide better care but had not yet done so.
The cost of rehabilitating the surviving dogs amounted to €16,450, with kennel fees accounting for €13,000 of that total. Some of the dogs required up to a year of care to become adoptable, as they were severely traumatized.
Judge Colm Roberts, who heard the case, described it as “truly appalling” and convicted Fedoryn on all charges. Although the defendant has no prior convictions, the judge warned that the severity of the offenses could result in a prison sentence. He adjourned the sentencing until April 1st, 2025, pending a probation and welfare report, but made it clear that a prison term remained a possibility. “His liberty is at jeopardy,” Judge Roberts remarked, underlining the gravity of the situation.
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