Animal welfare centre agrees to review to end web campaign

One of Cork’s leading animal welfare organisation has agreed to undergo an independent review in a bid to quash a damaging campaign about its activities.

The Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) told city officials yesterday it would welcome a review by an independent animal welfare expert.

“We would be delighted to welcome this review. We are more than happy to open our doors,” spokesman Brian McDonagh said.

The development follows a move by seven city councillors last week who signed a motion urging Cork City Council to appoint an independent animal welfare expert or body to examine the CSPCA’s activities.

It was prompted by concerns raised by an online-driven campaign targeting the CSPCA.

Cllrs Ted Tynan, Patricia Gosch, Kenneth O’Flynn, Chris O’Leary, Kieran McCarthy, Lorraine Kingston, and Mary Shields supported the motion.

They said they wanted an independent body to conduct a full investigation into the standards, governance, management and animal welfare practices of the CSPCA, and that a comparison be made with management practices nationally.

Mr McDonagh said the CSPCA’s management committee wants to tackle the rumours and allegations once and for all.

“Our staff, who volunteer their own time at weekends and the committee members, are beaten up over this,” he said.

“It’s all nonsense. It’s a campaign by animal rights people trying to assault an animal welfare organisation. And it is affecting our funding — no doubt about it.”

The society has 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 to provide the city with a dog pound service.

City Hall says it has no concerns about the body’s operations. It pointed out that the organisation has one of the highest re-housing records in the country and one of the lowest numbers of dogs put down.

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.

Several councillors who visited the CSPCA’s Mahon complex last month said they were reassured by what they saw.

The motion calling for the review is due to be discussed at the council’s environment functional committee next month.