Under fire dogs’ home says it has nothing to hide

An embattled dogs’ home at the centre of serious animal welfare allegations has defended its operation and said it has nothing to hide.

The Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) claimed it is the victim of a “vendetta” and said it has been given a clean bill of health by government veterinary inspectors, and by City Hall, which pays it up to €70,000 a year.

Cork City Council pays the CSPCA to provide the city with a dog warden service. It also pays €8.50 per dog per night for the first five nights of a dog’s stay at its Mahon facility.

But several concerns have been raised in recent weeks about the condition of animals at the pound.

The CSPCA has taken legal steps in an effort to prevent certain individuals repeating claims online.

Former CSPCA volunteer Mary McCarthy, who was among the first to raise concerns, said she stands over everything she said.

“I am, first and foremost, an animal lover and I refuse to apologise for that,” she said.

“As long as there are issues to be raised, I will continue to raise them. All I care about is the animals — that they get proper veterinary care, and that they go to a good home.”

But CSPCA spokesman Chris Connolly said there are certain people who have a vendetta against the organisation and have been waging a damaging campaign against them.

“Everybody who has come down to visit the site has come away with no concerns,” he said.

A spokesman for City Hall said it has no concerns about continuing to pay public money to the CSPCA.

“They have one of the highest re-housing records in the country and one of the lowest numbers of dogs put to sleep,” he said.

While experts say they can’t fault the CSPCA’s purpose-built facilities, they have questioned the level of veterinary care received by animals there, and the society’s neutering policy.

One expert said some animals have left the facility in worse condition than when they were taken in.

Cllr Laura McGonigle (FG) was among a delegation of city councillors to visit the facility last Friday.

“I have absolutely no concerns about animal welfare at the site after our visit. The staff were open, up-front and honest,” she said.

Cllr Mary Shields (FF) led calls last night for a “root and branch” review of the CSPCA’s operations.

“I am very worried about the amount of claims,” she said.

“Maybe some of it is exaggerated. But there are so many reports coming out now that it can’t all be exaggerated.”

The CSPCA received 626 dogs last year. It rehoused 421 and 102 were reclaimed by their owners. It destroyed 60 dogs and 33 died of natural causes.