Three Donegal animal welfare charities have been allocated a total of €115,450 in funding announced by Donegal government minister, Charlie McConalogue.
Animals in Need Donegal has been awarded €55,200; ISPCA Donegal Animal Rehabilitation Centre received €32,400, while Twin Towns Lost and Found Dogs is getting €27,850. The three Donegal organisations are among 101 nationwide that have been allocated €6 million.
Making the announcement during a visit to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) on Animal Welfare Awareness Day, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said the overall allocation of €6 million was an increase of €200,000 on the 2022 amount.
Minister McConalogue commented: “Animal welfare is a priority for me and for my department and is important to us all in Ireland. I am delighted to announce today that I am providing the highest ever level of funding by my department to animal welfare charities.
“These grants will support these organisations in the vital work they do across the country, protecting, rescuing, and taking care of animals, and providing education and guidance to prevent welfare problems from arising in many cases. I recognise that this year dog welfare charities have had additional pressures to deal with, and so the increase in funding is focussed on providing additional support for those organisations.”
Urging the public to think carefully before getting a pet this Christmas, the Minister said: “Owning and caring for a pet is a major, long-term commitment. Before taking on a pet, I would ask people to consider the following – Is this particular type of pet the right choice for you? Is your home right for the type of pet you are considering? Is your lifestyle suit, and ed to giving the pet the time, energy and exercise it would need? Have you carefully considered the financial costs of taking care of an animal, including feed, veterinary care, and holiday costs? Have you considered the responsibilities of a pet owner? Dogs must be licensed and microchipped and kept under control according to the regulations. Will the pet be responsibly sourced? For example, consider adopting a dog from a shelter or charity.”
Highlighting the important work done by animal welfare charities in Ireland, Minister McConalogue added: “I’d like to acknowledge the important work carried out, often in very challenging circumstances, by animal welfare organisations and their dedicated volunteers and staff across Ireland. Animal welfare charities play a crucial role in helping animals in need, educating people, and raising public awareness about improving animal welfare.
“Responsible pet ownership campaigns can help to reduce the number of dogs abandoned or surrendered, and thus can reduce the pressure on dog shelters and charities. For this reason, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to promote responsible pet ownership.”
This year there is an additional focus on supporting charities involved in rehoming dogs. This recognises that 2023 has been a particularly challenging year in terms of dog welfare and for those working to rescue, protect and rehome dogs.
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