Finding homes in Tulla for preloved goods and animals

SECOND Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) have recently opened a second-hand shop in Tulla to help raise funds for the charity so that it can continue to rescue animals and find good homes for them.
SCAR rescues all manner of animals and was responsible for rescuing and finding a home for a lame fox found in the Tulla area last year after she was turned in to the local veterinary office.
The animal was dubbed Ms Erica Fox and was taken in and cared for by a family in County Limerick who had two other pet foxes.
Frances Murphy runs SCAR currently and explains how the opening of this shop and others in the county will help them not only to continue their service but also help employ people.
“Our donations are down and these second-hand shops are the way to go. Limerick animal welfare currently has three. We have two in Shannon and it is our intention to open one in Ennis. We rescue all types of animals from tame rats to horses. We have three ponies at the moment, we also have cats, kittens, horses, dogs and rabbits and our veterinary bills are going up and up. We do a lot of work with Tulla vets and we will benefit from 40% of the charity shop sales, while the running of the shop will done by someone on a back-to-work scheme so there is double the benefit and opportunity,” Frances outlined.
SCAR take in unwanted or stray animals, they ensure they are neutered and have their vaccinations and they look after them until homes become available. They also rescue dogs from pounds.
“It isn’t that busy at the moment but it will always be busy with cats and kittens. We have 30 to 40 cats at the moment that are neutered and ready to be homed,” she added.
The charity not only has the usual domestic animals but they have recently taken in a tame pet rat.
The shop itself sells all second-hand clothing, shoes and bric-a-brac and they also take electrical items, which are then tested by an electrician before resale.
Frances explains that items handed into the shop are often offered to other organisations such as ClareCare for those in need of these items. They also donate to the homeless.
The organisation is inviting those who would be interested in volunteering to either look after animals or to help out in the shops to contact them. They also are encouraging people to drop in their unwanted second-hand items to the shop in Tulla, which is open from 10am to 4pm every day except Sundays and Mondays.
The shop was opened last week by Ennis town councillor Paul O’Shea, who raised funds for the charity recently. He said, “I think SCAR is a wonderful organisation and they put a lot of time and effort into generating funds for animals and they need all the help they can get.”