The Letterkenny District Court, County Donegal, heard that a local man castrated his neighbor’s dog after it attempted to mate with his pedigree dogs.

Eddie Flood (43), from Carnasaull, Termon, said Frank McGettigan’s cross-breed terrier, Rusty, had been allowed to wander freely. He said that he had removed the dog from his property up to 20 times.

When the terrier attempted to mate with one of his pedigree border collies he took matters in to his own hands. Flood attached a lambing tail (used to remove tails on newborn sheep) to Rusty’s testicles and castrated it.

The Irish Independent reported that Flood had admitted to the offense but said that his dogs has been “pestered” by Rusty. He explained that he had been forced to lock his dogs in a shed to keep the terrier away.

His lawyer, Sinead Bradley, said that neighbors confirmed that Rusty was a danger to female dogs in the area, according to the Daily Star. Judge Seamus Hughes questioned whether males in the area were safe from Mr Flood.

He was fined €230 in veterinary bills and €500 in compensation for his neighbor Mr McGettigan. Mr Gettigan said that he had had to give the dog away after receiving the vet’s bill. He also said that he had feared for Rusty’s safety in the neighborhood.