Petition to reopen Donegal ISPCA rehabilitation centre garners almost 1,500 signatures

by Mia Regan

ALMOST 1,500 people have signed a petition calling for the reopening of the Donegal ISPCA Animal Rehabilitation Centre to reopen.

The Ballyare-based centre closed its doors in September after the withdrawal of The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA). The ISPCA took over management of the centre from the Donegal SPCA, who founded the centre in 2018.

The closure of the rehabilitation centre, which cared for thousands of animals over the last seven years, has been described locally as a “serious setback for animal welfare”.

The animals that were in the centre at the time of its closure were transferred to an animal rehabilitation centre in Longford.

A petition was set up by Kathleen Murray at the time of its closure. There are currently 1,415 signatures on the petition.

The more signatures acquired, the closer the campaign will come to seeing the reopening of the animal rehabilitation centre. This will mean that animals can be treated in Donegal. Furthermore, people with pets and animals will no longer have to worry about travelling to another county to seek the help needed at another animal rehabilitation centre.