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24th May 2019

ISPCA issues urgent plea for support as reports of animal cruelty reach all-time high

Paul Moore

17,338 calls to help animals were recorded last year.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has launched its annual Inspectorate Report, highlighting an increase in the number of animal cruelty reports received in 2018.

Last year, the ISPCA recorded 17,338 calls for help.

The recent report outlines the 18 prosecutions that ISPCA Inspectors were involved in throughout 2018 which were resolved in the courts.

ISPCA Animal Welfare Inspectors carried out 3,494 investigations, with 1,102 animals seized or surrendered and taken into ISPCA care.

Since the Animal Health and Welfare Act came into force five years ago, the ISPCA Helpline has handled 86,549 calls and from these incidents, 17,832 investigations have been carried out by ISPCA Inspectors; with 5,147 animals seized/surrendered.

ISPCA Inspectors have been involved with 64 prosecutions for animal cruelty and they have been successfully resolved in court.

Lats October, a man was handed a three-year prison term after he pleaded guilty to 30 charges of animal cruelty.

It was the biggest case in the ISPCA’s history and it involved the removal of 340 dogs and 11 horses.

Speaking about the report, ISPCA Chief Inspector Conor Dowling said: “This particular case highlighted in the report was almost four years coming to a conclusion. Even though it was so long ago, the events of that week are still fresh in the memories of all those who witnessed those scenes.

“Never in my 20 years’ service have I seen such extreme suffering on such a scale. We discovered a number of dead animals scattered around the property, some of which had been used to feed the dogs. It was just harrowing. Although there was an appeal against the severity of the sentence it was dismissed by the Court of Appeal and the original sentence was upheld. The ISPCA felt that this outcome was appropriate.”

Chief Inspector Dowling added: “We have never been busier or under so much pressure and our resources are dangerously stretched. There are many areas in Ireland we are currently unable to reach so we need to expand our Inspectorate (currently at nine members). But we must also develop our animal accommodation facilities to enable us to take in the volume of vulnerable animals that our Inspectors may wish to remove from sub-standard situations.”

The ISPCA is appealing to the Irish Government and the public for more funding to help fight animal cruelty. Donations can be made here.

A total of 86,549 calls have been received by the ISPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline since it was established in 2014, the year in which the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (AHWA) was introduced.