Skip to main content

Belfast man convicted of failing to ensure the welfare of and abandoning a dog

Date: 25 Feb 2025


Belfast City Hall

At Belfast Magistrates Court today (Tuesday 25 February 2025), Karl Barkley of Silverstream Drive, was sentenced for the offences of failing to ensure the needs of an animal and abandoning a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in July 2023.

Belfast City Council took the prosecution after complaints were received that a dog had been left in the front garden of a property unattended for a number of days. Animal Welfare Officers entered the property under warrant and seized the dog which had been observed as being unattended for a period of at least 72 hours. 

Mr Barkley was handed a 120 hour Community Service Order and required to pay kennel costs of £250 and legal and court costs of £181.

The Court also disqualified Mr Barkley from owning any animal for a period of ten years.

Mr Barkley had been convicted at an earlier hearing of failing to ensure the welfare of the dog.

Read aloud icon Read aloud