Until now, animal welfare legislation introduced five years ago has only been used in prosecutions linked to cats, dogs and horses, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has said.

Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, ISPCA inspectors have statutory powers to investigate animal cruelty and initiate prosecutions.

The ISPCA is now planning to prosecute a pet owner who allegedly abandoned five guinea pigs and a goldfish at a rented apartment in Cork, The Irish Times reports. Four of the guinea pigs survived.

Reflecting on previous prosecutions, senior inspector Lisa O’Donovan said: “It is predominantly cats, dogs and horses. I have never known a case regarding other domestic animals and I don’t believe my colleagues have either.”