STOUT'S STORY

This is Stout. Stout was born in a backyard breeders shed. There were multiple dogs in the shed, all living in their own filth and waste. The dogs, including Stouts mother, were fed on solely boiled potatoes. There were 3 litters taken from this shed. Stout was the only survivor. One litter was born pure white (they were border collies) and were blind, deaf and so deformed they had to be put to sleep. All of Stout’s siblings died too. Stout had no use of his back legs when he was first found, but over a few days he was able to weight bear slightly and take a few small steps. This then declined as he started to grow. Stout went to live with his foster parents Tara and Kevin. After numerous tests it indicated that Stout had a liver shunt, so he was sent to a specialist hospital in Dublin for a CT scan. At this point, Stout could no longer stand or weight bear. Unfortunately when Stout’s results came back it showed that he had lesions in his neck and down his spine that were pressing on his spinal cord. There was also mineralisation of bone developing in his spinal canal, which the specialist hadn’t seen before. Stouts shoulders were also starting to calcify and prevent any movement. This was caused from severe malnutrition and inbreeding. They gave him a guarded prognosis and said it’s a very small chance that he may improve with a highly nutritious diet and supplements. On top of this, he was taken to physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and massage therapy multiple times a week. After a couple of weeks, he seemed to show improvement in his hind legs, as they were getting stronger. His family started to hope that the damage his breeder had done was starting to heal. Unfortunately, that’s where his improvements stopped. He was then brought to an orthopaedic specialist in Cork. After a close examination, she said that as he’s growing, his deformities are getting larger, his shoulders had totally calcified, and his front legs and paws had no ligaments attached, and caused abnormal movement of the paws. His back legs were turned inwards, another huge deformity that would prevent him ever walking. The lesions and the mineralisation had also grown larger. She said that he will never be able to make it to even his 1st birthday. She said that very soon, he would start feeling extreme pain. The kindest thing at this stage was euthanasia. His foster family officially adopted him and gave him a week of happiness, taking him to the beach and so many other places. On Friday 1st August 2025, Stout was mercifully put to sleep. Stout was the most loving puppy you could ever meet, and remained happy and playful right to the end. He never let his ailments stop him from giving affection. He loved life with his family, as short as it was. This was totally PREVENTABLE. There was no need for Stout or any of the other puppies to have ever been born, especially not in the way they were. Stout’s story touched so many people around the country and sparked a strong demand for change. So his parents created Stout’s Law. Stout’s Law will ask for amendments to be made in current legislation, to make the legislation strong, and to enforce punishment on backyard breeders, puppy farms/factories and anyone who abuses any animal. Stout’s Law will ask for animals to recognised as sentient beings, and not property. With your support, you can help his family to push this much needed law through. Sign the petition, support our cause, and attend our demonstrations. Let Stout’s Law be the catalyst of change for Ireland’s animals.