Darnley man who chained up dogs in his barn pleads guilty to animal neglect

The Darnley, P.E.I., residentwho kept ten underweightdogs chained up in his barn has pleaded guilty to animal neglect.

66-year-old Kenneth Brian Graham appeared in Summerside Provincial Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced and ordered to pay a fine of$1,000 and pay$2,129in restitution costs to the P.E.I. Humane Society forthe seizure of his animals.

• Hounds seized by Humane Society last month destined for new homes

The dogs were discovered following a tip to the humane society in November.

RCMP and the humane society investigated Graham's property and court heard Tuesday that the dogs were found skittish, underweight and tethered on short chains inside Graham'slarge barn.

The dogs were immediately seized.

An examination by a veterinarianshowed the dogs were also poorly socialized with poor body conditions and other ailments including parasites, eye and skin problems and overgrown claws.

Five of the 10 dogs found new homes after the seizure. The other five, however, were euthanized as they were "showing no signs of improving and were continuing to suffer mentally," according to anews release from the humane society.

In addition to paying the fine andrestitution costs,Graham is also prohibited from owning a dog for 5 years, with the exception of the two dogs that currently live in his home that showed no signs of neglect.

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