Belfast woman banned from owning animals after case

By hiyastar.co.uk News Desk

A Belfast woman has been sentenced to community service and probation after being convicted of animal welfare offences linked to a dog found in need of veterinary care at her home.

Amanda Walker, of Bentinck Street, Belfast, was sentenced at Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, following an earlier conviction under The Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

Dog found needing veterinary care

Belfast City Council brought the prosecution after animal welfare officers visited Ms Walker’s Bentinck Street address in October and November 2025.

During the initial animal welfare visit, officers found a Collie-type dog that required veterinary treatment. Ms Walker was then served with two Improvement Notices. Those notices instructed her to seek veterinary care for the dog and provide proof that the care had been arranged or given.

According to the council, Ms Walker failed to provide evidence of the requested care.

Convictions under animal welfare law

Ms Walker was convicted of two counts of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice under Section 10 of The Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

She was also convicted of one count of failing to ensure the needs of an animal under Section 9 of the same legislation.

Improvement Notices are used in animal welfare cases where authorities require specific action to address an animal’s condition or care. Failure to comply can lead to prosecution if the required steps are not taken or evidence is not supplied.

Sentence and animal ownership ban

Belfast Magistrates Court sentenced Ms Walker to 80 hours of community service and 12 months of probation.

She was also ordered to pay £174 in legal and court costs.

The court disqualified Ms Walker from owning any animal for 10 years, meaning she cannot legally keep animals during that period.

Source: Belfast City Council