Funding in excess of €400,000 has been awarded to local animal welfare organisations in Cork for the New Year, according to Fine Gael’s Cork North West General Election Candidate Cllr. John Paul O’Shea.
Cllr. O’Shea said, “My colleague, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed,has announced funding for several organisations in Cork. These payments will be made with immediate effect.
“This year’s allocation to organisations throughout the country is the largest ever. This funding will contribute to the protection of surrendered, abandoned and at-risk animals. These organisations do great work here in Cork and I am thrilled to see this recognised and funding made available to help this excellent work to continue. The staff and volunteers who work in these organisations also do outstanding work and I would like to take this opportunity to recognise their contribution.”
Organisations in Cork who are to benefit from this funding include:
- Community Cats Network, Kilbrittain, Co Cork – €9,000
- Cork Animal Care Society, Kilmichael, Co Cork – €7,000
- Cork Cat Action Trust, Blackrock, Co Cork – €15,000
- Cork Dog Action Welfare Group, Milford, Charleville Co Cork – €32,000
- Cork SPCA, Mahon, Co Cork – €100,000
- Homeless Animal Rescue Team (HART), Buttevant, Co Cork – €2,000
- ISPCA, Equine Rescue Centre, Mallow, Co Cork – €30,000
- Munster Lost & Found Pet Helpline, Ballinhassig, Co Cork – €8,000
- Pauline’s Rescue, Milford, Charleville, Co Cork – €23,000
- Rehoming Cork Pets, Carrigadrohid, Co Cork – €5,000
- Rural Animal Welfare Resources, Drimoleague, Co Cork – €13,000
- The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, Liscarroll, Mallow, Co Cork – €155,000
- West Cork Animal Welfare Group, Clonakilty, Co Cork – €17,000
Cllr. O’Shea continued, “Fine Gael in Government have looked to strengthen and improve animal welfare legislation in recent years. The reform of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which replaced legislation going back over a hundred years, was a particular milestone in providing a modern-day legislative basis to support animal welfare policies and objectives.
“This legislation enshrined the Five Freedoms concept and introduced mandatory standards to provide for positive welfare for animals. I am delighted that my colleague Minister Creed will also introduce new legislation on the sale and supply of pet animals, and publishing a voluntary Code of Practice for Sellers and Suppliers of Pets.
“Anyone selling or supplying more than 5 pet animals in a given year must register with DAFM. All advertisements of pet animals must include certain minimum information about the pet and the seller or supplier, including in respect of dogs, its microchip number. The Code contains guidelines on animal welfare and also addresses public health concerns, for example the need for good hygiene when handling animals, and the potential risk to the health of children associated with contact with reptiles”
Speaking about this legislation Minister Creed said, “The introduction of this legislation is the culmination of a public consultation to get the public’s views on the sale and supply of pet animals. I was very pleased with the response, which included views of animal welfare charities and the industry. The new legislation covers the online advertising of pets for sale or supply, and introduces more traceability especially where dogs are concerned, by requiring advertisement for those pets to include the microchip number of the animal. These new measures will contribute to my Department’s work in ensuring high standards of the welfare of pet animals are maintained.”
