€35,000 allocation for Mayo animal welfare groups
FUNDING of €35,000 is to be distributed among five animal welfare groups in Mayo.
The allocations are: Ainmhithe Animal Rescue €4,193; North West SPCA €12,790; Mayo SPCA €4,283; Madra €7,967; Involve €2,097; and Hungry Horse Outside €3,670.
The grants are broadly in line with the amounts approved by Mayo County Council last year and they were recommended when they came before a meeting of the authority's environment committee.
The council's objective in relation to animal welfare is to provide assistance to organisations that actively work in areas such as rescue, rehabilitation, training, re-homing, neutering, microchipping and the trapping, neutering and release of feral cats.
Ballina-based Ainmhithe's use of an online data management system for traceability was, the council report on the applications noted, something other groups would be encouraged to adopt.
The group dealt with 70 dogs over the last year and assist the council in taking dogs from the pound.
North West SPCA, also in Ballina, cover the whole county, taking in 154 animals last year.
Mayo SPCA provided support to the council at critical times over the past year, taking in 72 dogs. They require funding for a new van for transporting animals.
Madra dealt with almost all of the dogs (68) impounded by the council and is dedicated to rescuing and finding homes for unwanted, abandoned and abused dogs.
Involve is a youth project in Ballina, working with young people aged 10 to 24. Their work includes horse husbandry training in a disadvantaged area.
Hungry Horse Outside is the only organisation that has been in a position to collect and rehome stray horses that the council has to deal with.
Councillors thanked the organisations for the wonderful service they provide.
Councillor Donna Sheridan commented that the number of dogs being abandoned has reached 'crisis point', noting there had been a huge move towards getting a dog during Covid.
She implored people not to buy a dog this Christmas. There are so many out there that need homes.
The volunteers in the welfare organisations worked 24/7, every day of the year, and she thanked them for the work they do.