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Tag Archives: ISPCA

ISPCA street protest over dog pound

SUPPORTERS of the ISPCA retaining control of the Clare County Pound will hold a peaceful protest on Saturday in O’Connell Square, Ennis, at 11am. This follows last Saturday’s event, in which organisers say between 100 and 200 people came out to back their campaign. Protesters marched carrying placards and chanting slogans supporting the ISPCA and dog warden, Frankie Coote. An online petition calling for the pound to remain in the hands of the ISPCA has received 1,500 signatures so far, with further signatures being gathered on paper at the protests. The protests have been organised by the group Protecting Pound Dogs in Ennis County Clare. The county pound has been run by the ISPCA, with Frankie Coote as dog warden, for decades. The running of the pound has now been put out to tender, with protesters fearing that it will be removed from the ISPCA. Clare County Council insist that no decision has been made on the contract. A spokesperson …

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Barking mad over county pound contract

CLARE County Council is barking up the wrong tree if they take the operation of the county’s dog pound away from the ISPCA, animal welfare groups have warned. The county pound, located at the Gort Road Industrial Estate in Ennis, is currently being run by the ISPCA, with Frankie Coote as dog warden. However Clare County Council has put the operation of the pound out to tender. In just 24 hours, an online petition organised by the group Protecting Pound Dogs in Ennis County Clare has gained 1,000 signatures, with that figure continuing to grow. The petition is calling for the pound to remain in the hands of the ISPCA. Cork-based company Four Seasons Promotions Ltd, trading as ACS, is understood to be in the running for the tender to operate the county pound. However, Clare County Council insists that no decision has been made on the contract. A spokesperson for the council stated, “The tendering process has not yet …

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Keep dogs under control

The ISPCA has warned dog owners to act responsibly and keep them under control near sheep and other livestock. Walking your dog outdoors is a great way to get healthy and it is an enjoyable form of exercise for both owner and dog, however, we do not want to see any lambs or ewes distressed, injured or killed by dogs this spring. Nor do we want to see any dogs destroyed as a result. “Losses to sheep farmers can be significant and distressing. We would like to remind all dog owners to keep their dogs under control around sheep and other livestock, particularly at this time of year when lambs are being born and are extremely vulnerable,” said Dr Andrew Kelly, CEO for the ISPCA. Under the Control of Dogs Act, dog owners can be held liable for financial damage caused to farmers and these costs can be significant. Even the most docile of dogs can join a pack in …

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Compulsory microchipping of dogs

The compulsory microchipping of dogs will be rolled out on a phased basis, beginning with pups in September and expanded to all dogs in March 2016. The announcement by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has been welcomed by the ISPCA as an indication of the Government’s clear commitment to animal welfare. ISPCA CEO, Dr Andrew Kelly said, “The introduction of compulsory microchipping is a major step forward for dog welfare in Ireland and is a key component of responsible dog ownership. The permanent identification of a dog will increase the likelihood of it being returned to its owner if it is lost or stolen. Compulsory microchipping will also reduce the burden on animal welfare organisations and dog rescue organisations caused by stray dogs and should result in fewer dogs entering the local authority dog shelters around the country. “Don’t wait until 2016, get your dog microchipped now”.

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Dog warden confronted by the ‘Hakka’

CLARE’S dog warden has told a court how an Australian woman confronted him at Ennis Pound, as if she was doing the “Hakka”, and demanded to see the “f-ing dungeons”. Frankie Coote, dog warden for County Clare, was giving evidence in the case of Gillian Le Francois, aged 46, of 3 Saint Francis Terrace, Kilrush Road, Ennis, who denied engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Ennis Dog Pound on August 6 last. Describing the way he was confronted by Mrs Le Francois, Mr Coote said, “the only way I can put it is it was like a Hakka, the woman was coming up into my face”. He said she “went to attack me” and had called another employee names. Mr Coote said Ms Le Francois told him that she was entitled to see “the f**king dungeons” at the pound, and when he told her “there are no dungeons”, “she tried to push past” him. Mr Coote said he …

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Horses starve to death in Ballinruan

“THE worst form of cruelty” was how a local woman described the treatment of three horses which are said to have starved to death in Ballinruan. Its understood that two of the horses she was referring to died some time ago, while the third one died relatively recently. The woman said, “It was shocking, it would have taken them a few months to die and they would have been in agony. They hadn’t had a pick to eat and it’s happening every winter; someone keeps putting the horses in the same place. “They obviously weren’t getting a scrap of hay and they would have had a horrible death. The cold weather probably just finished them off.” She said it has been a big topic of discussion in the area lately. “A lot of people are talking about it and they are disgusted by it.” The woman also said that a foal was one of the dead animals. “One of the …

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Dog left to die over six weeks in West Clare

CLARE County Dog Warden, Frankie Coote has described his discovery of a dying German Shepherd in West Clare on Monday as the worst incident of animal neglect he has had to deal with in his 23-year association with the ISPCA. On the back of an anonymous call, accompanied by Garda Seán Kelly from Kilrush Garda Station, Mr Coote called to the house, behind which the stricken dog lay. “I thought the dog was dead for a considerable amount of time. As I went to examine the dog and take some photographs of what I thought was a carcass, I then discovered that the dog was able to move its head and could look up at me,” he revealed. “The dog had been alive and he had been eaten by maggots and rodents.We reckon the dog had been lying on its side for six to eight weeks, without food or water. Poignantly, the stricken animal appeared to thank the dog warden …

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Carcasses may have to be burned

SUCH is the difficulty in accessing the location where 17 horses, cattle and calves were found dumped at Baltard Cliffs in Doonbeg last week, the animals may have to be burned. Kilrush Gardai are still investigating the discovery of the dead animals, news of which was broken in last week’s Clare Champion. “Enquiries are ongoing in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Clare County Council, The Irish Horse Welfare Trust and the ISPCA. Door to door enquiries have also been carried out,” Kilrush Gardai said on Wednesday, adding that they would welcome any further information from members of the public. Meanwhile, Clare ISPCA Officer Frankie Coote described the location of the dead animals as “perilous” adding that it may prove impossible to remove them. He did not discount suggestions that they may have to be burned where they lie. “It would be one of the options open to them I’d say. I personally feel that you couldn’t get a digger, …

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