Two brothers from Belfast have each been handed a nine month jail sentence and are disqualified from owning or keeping any animal, dealing in animals or transporting animals for a period of 10 years following a Scottish SPCA investigation.
28-year-old Tom Mongan and 40-year-old William Joseph Mongan, of Millpond Glen, Dunmurry, Belfast pled guilty to a total of five charges between them of unnecessary suffering to eight puppies by failing to provide veterinary treatment for parvovirus at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 11 September 2023 and sentenced at the same court on 6 November 2023.
Scottish SPCA acting chief inspector, Lesley Boyce, said: “The SIU received intelligence regarding a number of related individuals named Mongan who were travelling from Northern Ireland to Scotland to sell pups as part of the low-welfare puppy trade.
“On 28 January 2021, along with Police Scotland officers, we attended a flat in Glasgow where there were immediate concerns for the welfare of animals within the property.
“It was established that there was a total of eight pups within the flat. Three Pomeranian type pups were being kept in the living room area. In the bedroom there was a spaniel type pup, wrapped up in a pink dressing gown, who was visually lethargic. The puppy had a distended abdomen and was unable to lift their head.
“Also in the bedroom were two Staffordshire bull terrier type pups which both had distended abdomens and appeared to be in poor condition. Inside the en-suite bathroom there was one spaniel type pup and one Pomeranian type pup. Both these dogs were also visually assessed as being in poor condition.
“On the floor of both the bedroom and living room area was a puddle of clear, yellow fluid which had the appearance of watery diarrhoea or vomit. The fluid contained worms. Tom Mongan stated that the pups had not received veterinary treatment.
“Due to immediate concerns for their welfare, the eight pups were seized under Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, Section 32 and taken for immediate veterinary examination.
“Tom Mongan admitted to being the owner of the pups and stated that he had bred the pups in Northern Ireland. He said there were too many to keep so he brought them to Scotland for rehoming. He then agreed to relinquish ownership of all pups into our care.
“Of the eight puppies we found, four later died of parvovirus.
“We welcome the sentence the Mongans have received. The pain and suffering those puppies endured while in their care is unthinkable. We hope no other animal will be caused any suffering by them.”
“If anyone is concerned about an animal, they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
