Pet hotel owner handed suspended sentence over shocking neglect of dogs

PET HOTEL OWNER HANDED SUSPENDED SENTENCE OVER SHOCKING NEGLECT OF DOGS

A woman who ran a pet hotel and neglected almost 40 dogs in a case branded by a judge as "absolutely shocking" has been handed a suspended 10-month prison sentence.

Paula McIvor, 43, was sentenced at Lisburn Magistrates Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to six charges committed between 12 July and 29 August 2023.

District Judge Rosie Watters said that instead of caring for people's pets at Waggies Pet Hotel, McIvor, from the Belfast Road in Glenavy, used the business as a "a licence to print money".

Judge Watters said that despite being told to close her business on 11 August, McIvor kept it open for another three weeks.

"People trusted you with their animals and their pets… and you have to understand how people feel about their pets," the judge said.

The court heard McIvor failed to meet the needs of a golden retriever called Sam, Tonks a border collie, Steve a bichon frisé and poodle cross, and 36 other unnamed dogs.

Alongside charges of failure to ensure the animals' needs were met, McIvor also admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to Tonks who had to be put to sleep due to multiple health conditions which were developed while in her care.