Minister reveals animal welfare grants

THE months after Christmas are sadly the busiest time for animal welfare organisations.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said pets given at Christmas, from puppies to kittens or guinea pigs, grow up quickly, needing more food and attention or a trip to the vet.

“All of this can take time and money and the novelty of owning a pet can wear off for children,” she warned.

Ms Coughlan was announcing her approval of ex-gratia payments totalling €1.2 million to 94 organisations involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services to assist in their work during 2007.

She said this year’s disbursement would assist the greatest number of animal welfare organisations since the department first made ex-gratia payments in 1995. It brings total department assistance provided to organisations since then to €7.2m.

“I recognise that such funding, however welcome, does not cover the full costs to these bodies of meeting all the demands made on them,” said Ms Coughlan.

“They will continue to need the support of the public to maintain their operations at effective levels and I would appeal to the public to continue to give that support in any way they can,” she said.

Ms Coughlan said the ISPCA is also involved with her department and the IFA in the operation of the early warning/intervention system for farm animal welfare cases arising from a recommendation from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council.