VIDEO: Time we got off the fence on animal welfare
Animal welfare groups across the country want the Government to crack down on those who abuse, neglect, and abandon animals.
“This year, Ireland made international headlines for all the wrong reasons when greyhounds from Cork were sent to meet a gruesome fate in China,” says Margaret Twohig of the Cork Dog Action Welfare Group.
“They were intercepted by greyhound welfare groups in the UK, and sent back to their owner. Despite international outcry, and a petition signed by over 250,000 people sent to both the Taoiseach and Minister for Agriculture, nothing has changed.”
She describes “the horrors” of the Irish puppy farming industry as another blight on our animal rights record.
“The suffering of dogs whose sole purpose is to breed until they are no longer fit for purpose is a disgrace,” says Margaret. “We have a shameful reputation internationally in how we treat our animals. The lack of strong legislation and political action is a shameful indictment of Irish animal welfare.”
Currently, the penalty for convictions in relation to animal abuse is a max of five years in prison.
However, Margaret says enforcement is needed.
“Very rarely, if ever, do we see someone being prosecuted in court and sent to prison for animal abuse,” she says. “Without a deterrent people will just continue to inflict abuse on defenceless animals.”
DONKEY SANCTUARY
Staff at The Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, Co Cork, have rescued more than 300 donkeys in the last 12 months alone.
“We currently have 1,803 donkeys in our care. This is a staggering number of animals to look after,” says sanctuary PRO Tríona O’Mahony.
Of the donkeys rescued this year, Triona explains, most were in extremely poor condition with long, overgrown hooves.
“Many people are unaware that donkeys need to be treated by a farrier every six to 10 weeks because their hooves grow very quickly and it can cause long-term damage if their feet are neglected,” she says.
In addition to neglect, however, the sanctuary also sees a lot of animal cruelty and abandonment cases.
“We recently rescued nine stallion donkeys abandoned in a mountain range in Sligo,” Triona says. “These donkeys were underweight, suffering from a heavy lice and worm burden, their hooves were severely overgrown and painful, and they were facing into a long winter without food or shelter.”
“It was overwhelming to see these beautiful, gentle animals disembark the lorry and step into a barn with a big straw bed and food and water readily available. For some of the donkeys, it may have been their first time in a shelter with comfortable surroundings.”
It is hoped these donkeys will eventually get permanent homes. Triona says the rehoming work has been going well lately.
“We have found loving homes for many of our donkeys throughout the country,” she says. “We now have 460 donkeys residing in private homes ranging from nursing homes to Montessori schools and hospitals where donkeys make a huge impact on their guardians. Seeing our donkeys that were once neglected be a part of a family and a rehabilitation programme is really heartening.”
To care for one donkey in the sanctuary for a year costs roughly €3,000. A donkey can live 30-40 years. Triona encourages anyone who can rehome a donkey, or who would like to adopt a donkey for €25 a year, to get in touch.
thedonkeysanctuary.ie, 022 48398, or email info@thedonkeysanctuary.ie or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
WEST CORK ANIMAL WELFARE GROUP
Despite appeals asking pet owners to neuter their animals, many people still don’t, according to Jennifer Headlam of the West Cork Animal Welfare Group.
“You see the same problems come up again and again,” she says. “People who aren’t neutering their pets; unwanted puppies; people not tagging their pets or minding them properly. We’re desperately trying to get the message through about neutering animals and asking people not to get a pet unless they are prepared to commit to looking after it for its whole life, not just until their plans change or they get bored of it.”
She says 2016 has been an extremely busy year, and has seen an “endless” line of unwanted puppies come in the doors. The shelter cares for roughly 40 dogs and cats at any one time and, so far this year, has looked after 360 animals. This number, says Jennifer, could double if they had bigger facilities.
While animal cruelty is undoubtedly an issue, Jennifer says most of the cases she deals with are related to ignorance and neglect.
“For example, we’ve seen several cases of electric collars being put on dogs, which are cruel to start with, but then they have not been checked and we have found the metal prongs embedded into the necks of dogs.”
westcorkanimals.com or email info@westcorkanimals.com.
EAGLES FLYING
Finance is one of the main issues affecting animal welfare organisations right now, says Lothar Muschketat, founder of Eagles Flying, Ireland’s largest centre for birds of prey and owls.
“It is quite expensive to buy medication and pay veterinary bills and, of course, to provide adequate accommodation and, last but not least, to remunerate skilled staff,” he says.
“Another problem is the fact that some people acquire animals disregarding that the purchase is only one part of the expense. Keeping animals can be quite expensive like with reptiles that need special UV lighting, heating, and very often expensive food. Eventually, these animals are even kept without satisfying their natural requirements, leading to diseases and a slow death.”
Flying Eagles, based in Co Sligo, deals with a large volume of bird casualties every year, but also rescues other wildlife.
“Very often, the patients need quite a long time to recover or long-term treatment,” says Lothar. “These patients will stay in the sanctuary until they are fully recovered. As soon as they are fit for their life in the wild they will be returned to nature, if possible, in the area where they were found.”
While most cases are where animals have been injured accidentally, Lothar is also aware of animal cruelty.
“Occasionally we are told about cases happening to wild animals like a fox, for example, that was trapped, set on fire, and released,” he says. “This pitiable creature suffered a very slow and cruel death.”
He said they also see a “considerable” number of birds found tangled in fishing lines or having swallowed fishing hooks.
At the moment, his centre is home to 450 animals of 100 different species.
Originally set up as a research centre, the facility opened to the public in 2003 and has won ‘Best Family Day out at the Families First Awards as well as a Certificate of Excellence from Tripadvisor.
eaglesflying.com, phone 071 9189310 or email eagles.flying@hotmail.com or on Facebook.
CORK DOG ACTION WELFARE GROUP
A lack of “effective and implemented legislation” surrounding animal welfare in this country presents a huge challenge to those working in animal shelters here, says Cork Dog Action Welfare Group (Cork DAWG) spokeswoman, Margaret Twohig.
“Rarely, if ever, in this country is anyone who abuses, neglects or is cruel to an animal ever held to account by our justice system,” she says. “There is no deterrent whatsoever, so the suffering of animals continues.
“The lack of strong legislation to protect animals is a shameful indictment of Irish animal welfare. Sadly, with the exception of politicians such as Maureen O’Sullivan and Clare Daly, there appears to be a total lack of interest across the political spectrum.”
She says there is currently “no shortage” of cases of animal cruelty or neglect.
“It can take many forms,” says Margaret. “Not only the dogs that are injured, emaciated and in bad condition, but the dogs that live out their entire existence in back gardens, deprived of any human love or kindness and just left there.”
Cork DAWG has rescued more than 800 dogs this year and currently cares for more than 65 animals.
Margaret says 2016 was one of the most difficult ones the shelter has had.
“Like all Irish rescues, the struggle is constant,” she says. “We operate 24/7 finding safe places and funds for so many unwanted and abandoned dogs and puppies.”
She says that, as the country becomes more consumer-driven, many dogs and puppies are treated as disposable items and got rid of when the ‘novelty’ wears off.
“Rescues try their very best to pick up the pieces and find spaces, but sadly that is not always possible and so these innocent dogs often end up being euthanised,” says Margaret.
Finances are always a struggle, she adds: “Big hearts alone won’t save and care for animals. Funds are equally as vital. Our monthly vet bills remain constant, and are never under €10k a month.”
dogactionwelfaregroup.ie or email info@dogactionwelfaregroup.ie.
SEAL RESCUE IRELAND
Seal Rescue Ireland, in Courtown, Co Wexford, has had one of the busiest winter seasons ever this year.
“Since September, we have had a huge influx of grey seal pups coming in to us as orphans,” says spokeswoman, Ally McMillan. “Some have been very sick and some have had pretty nasty injuries due to mostly stormy weather and huge swells.”
The shelter has rescued more than 70 seals since last year, as well as a sparrow, a hedgehog and an otter, and its facility is currently at capacity caring for 52 seal pups. Each pup takes three to six months to rehabilitate before it can be released back into the wild.
Ally says: “Whether the calls are about healthy or sick pups, we are so delighted that people are seeking information. There are still many people who automatically assume that a seal on a beach is stranded and attempt to get the seal back in the water which can inadvertently harm the seal or, in a worst-case scenario, will end in its death. Seals come onto land for good reason — to rest. It is normal for seals to spend time on land, unlike dolphins and whales, so our advice is to never put a seal back in the water, and call us if you need any further advice.”
Due to the huge number of seals needing help this year, finances are strained.
“We are under more financial pressure than usual with larger than normal veterinary bills and needing to order tonnes of fish on a weekly basis to feed the pups, not to mention the electricity costs with trying to keep all the poorly pups warm,” says Ally. “We rely almost completely on donations.”
Every year, the centre spends €15k on fish; €8k or more on veterinary bills; €15k on vehicle expenses; €15k on electricity; and thousands more on water pools, releases, and equipment.
sealrescueireland.org, email sealrescueireland@gmail.com, phone 087 195 5393 or on Facebook.
THE HOGSPRICKLE
Humans form the main threat to the safety of hedgehogs but, thanks to increased public awareness, the spiky little creatures seem to be doing better in the wild than in recent years, according to the founder of The Hogsprickle shelter.
Wildlife expert Bev Truss says: “Now, people are more likely to be careful when working in the garden. The use of insecticides and slug pellets is also decreasing, though some shops are still selling these horrible killers. Slug pellets kill hedgehogs and birds, no matter what the packaging says.”
People building walls and clearing gardens need to be mindful of hedgehogs and, if possible, build ‘hedgehog highways’ in the bottom of walls and fences — essentially little hedgehog-sized holes to allow the creatures to go from garden to garden to forage.
“Also, manicured lawns and tidy gardens don’t let our native wild plants flourish and it’s really important that we support native plants,” says Bev. “Dandelions, for example, are the first flowers out in spring that feed the bees waking from their winter sleep. Most people I know cut them down rather than let them grow and feed the insects that feed the birds and hedgehogs.”
Bev, based in Clare, says this year has been one of the busiest she has ever had — she has taken in 84 hedgehogs. At the moment, she has 19 in the shelter — four are sleeping through the winter and the others are being kept at hotter temperatures because they are not yet at the right weight to hibernate.
The year has been busy and running costs are up.
“Donations are always welcome, whether it’s to our Paypal account, or a Dunnes or Tesco voucher for cleaning materials, or a Maxizoo voucher for food,” says Bev.
thehogsprickle.com or email thehogsprickle@gmail.com or on Facebook.
