‘Measly’ grants have left animal welfare organisation like Paws operating on a ‘complete shoestring,’ the Dail has been told this morning (Wednesday).
Tipperary TD Martin Browne highlighted the issue at the animal rescue centre on the Tipp-Kilkenny border, and he said it’s not good enough.
He told the Dail that government grants last year went no way near covering costs. Paws’ grant last year was €48,500. For example, this year they have already paid €147,000 in vet bills and €55,000 is outstanding. You can see the grant is “swallowed even before they get it,” Deputy Browne said.
If, like last year, the annual welfare grant remains unchanged it will go straight into their account and straight out. And they will still be in debt, he added.
While the organisation does appreciate the grant it’s just not adequate, nor is it a reflection of the work they do or the cost of doing it, the Dail was told.
Earlier this month PAWS Animal Rescue had to make the difficult decision not to take in any more animals ‘for the forseeable future’. Speaking recently to Kilkenny Live, owner Gina Hetherington warned that the rescue centre faced debts in the tens of thousands of euros and that she can see “no light at the end of the tunnel”.
“We have been doing this for 25 years and we can’t do it anymore,” she said. “We have 90 dogs, a vet bill which has risen again to 50k and we can’t get staff, nobody wants to work.
“We are one of 12 animal welfare groups that received no increase in the Department of Agriculture grants last December. We don’t know why? Heatwaves, storms, lockdowns, our team have worked through them all. But, not anymore. If we do not get help, we are done.
Deputy Browne said that the pressure on animal welfare organisations is growing. As we are approaching Christmas he urged people not to buy pets but go to the shelter and adopt a dog.
A reply on behalf of Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, read into the Dail record, acknowledged the work of animal welfare organisations and dedicated volunteers. Animal welfare charities are playing a crucial role in helping animals in need, educating people and raising awareness of animal welfare. In many cases it’s more than a job, it’s a vocation.
“Animal welfare is increasingly important to people in Ireland and it is a priority for the Department of Agriculture. We are ever more aware of the interrelation between the welfare of animals and human wellbeing.”
The department spokesperson urged Paws to apply for additional funding under a special fund for rehoming greyhounds.
This year’s funding will recognise the importance of education and dissemination of knowledge to improve animal welfare to society as a whole. The organisation is mainly involved in the care and the rehoming of greyhounds and the Department of Agriculture provides dedicated financial support under the Horse and Greyhound Fund to Rasíocht Con Eireann, the statutory body responsible for the operation and regulation of the greyhound industry. Private greyhound rehoming organisations in Ireland may, through the regulated charity the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, seek assistance towards costs incurred in the preparation of greyhounds for rehoming and the organisation in question is urged to avail of this funding opportunity.
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