May 2023

Derry dog Luna’s cruelty case adjourned to June

The man accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog who was found seriously injured and partially buried alive, has had his case adjourned to Thursday, June 8.

Peter Toland, 29, of Cornshell Fields, Derry, is charged with:

  • Three counts of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal,

  • One count of causing unnecessary suffering.

The dog at the centre of the case, an American Bull Dog called Luna, was euthanised by vets due to her critical condition after she was discovered by a member of the public in Ballyarnett Country Park on March 15, 2023.

Three days after the incident on March 18, a PSNI constable told Derry Magistrate’s court at at 5pm on Wednesday, March 15, the police had received a report form a vet clinic about the three-year-old dog who had been recovered from a shallow grave, still alive.

The court heard how the man who found Luna had to dig up the ground around her as it had been packed in, and two males were seen walking from the area.

Police attended the vet to witness Luna’s state and reported that she was in an “extremely poor state” and was receiving intensive care.

The PSNI officer stated the female dog was severely emaciated, had multiple punctures to her nose and head, her abdomen had collapsed preventing normal breathing and she had also sustained fresh bite injuries and broken teeth.

She had been found with a large piece of masonry covering her head.

Luna did not respond to emergency treatment and the vet felt that to prevent any further suffering she would have to be humanely put to sleep.

The court heard that police had searched Peter Toland’s home in Derry and three Whippet type dogs were located in a dog pen which had no bedding, no water and only small amounts of food. A large amount of faecal matter was observed by officers, along with a strong smell of urine.

The dogs were removed by police and have been placed in an appropriate facility.

Toland later presented himself to police in Derry on March 17, was arrested.

A court appearance on May 11 was adjourned at the request of the prosecution to a Magistrates’ Court sitting at Londonderry Courthouse Bishop Street Londonderry BT48 6PQ on June 8 at 11am.

Toland remains in custody at Maghaberry Jail, Co Antrim.