Dogs Trust offers to take over Cork animal welfare site

Dogs Trust, one of the largest dog welfare charities in Europe, has offered to take over the centre operated by the Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The Irish Examiner has learned Dogs Trust has offered a “generous leasing fee” to the CSPCA to take out an extended lease of up to five years on its purpose-built Mahon site.

CSPCA committee member Brian McDonagh confirmed they have received the offer.

“It is at the very early stages but we would be reluctant to move from our new premises in Mahon,” he said.

A City Hall spokesman said that he was aware of the negotiations but declined to comment further.

Dogs Trust approached the CSPCA with the proposal. During the talks, the CSPCA said it wanted to retain a presence on the site. But Dogs Trust said from a “brand integrity and animal welfare perspective” this was not acceptable to them.

“We have reassured them [the CSPCA] that it is not our intention to either subsume or eclipse them but rather we are giving them an opportunity to progress in a more positive light,” Dogs Trust executive director Mark Beazley said.

Agreeing to the deal would allow the CSPCA to carry out “other more rewarding welfare functions”, he said. However, if a deal was agreed, it would force the CSPCA to find alternative accommodation, and the Mahon site would no longer serve as the city’s dog pound — a service currently provided to the city council by the CSPCA.

Mr Beazley has now written to the city’s 31 councillors outlining his proposal. If the deal is agreed, he said the charity would enhance the Mahon kennelling areas and “bring them up to our standards”.

He said the main improvements would be in the form of animal welfare expertise, including a veterinary protocol to include the neutering, vaccination, micro-chipping and behavioural assessment of all dogs.

Staffing resources would be boosted, with the creation of 11 new jobs in managerial, training, behavioural, administrative and general operative grades, and Dogs Trust would also base their Munster education officer at the site, he said.

However, Cllr Laura McGonigle (FG) said she had certain concerns about the proposal. “I don’t see how it could work out. I don’t see how this could benefit the CSPCA. We in the city council have an obligation to provide a dog pound and the CSPCA is operating well out of the purpose-built Mahon facility. It is ideally suited to theirs and our needs.”

News of the offer comes against the backdrop of an online campaign targeting the CSPCA. The organisation has agreed to undergo an independent review of its operations to quash damaging rumours about its activities.