Eight Galway based animal welfare groups have been awarded €87,000 in funding which will be paid over to them immediately.
The Minster for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed this week announced that €2.9 million has been awarded to 106 animal welfare organisations around the country.
Minister Creed said that this is the largest ever allocation of funding from his department to animal welfare organisations.
He added that the groups named in this round of funding “provide great support and commitment to protecting surrendered, abandoned and at-risk animals.”
The Galway groups which received funding in the recent announcement are:
- Fellenberg Foundation Ireland, Woodford – €4,000
- Forgotten Horses Ireland, Kinvara – €7,500
- Galway & Claddagh Swan Rescue, Barna – €5,500
- Galway Cat Rescue, Knocknacarra – €5,000
- Galway SPCA, Heathlawn, Killimor, Ballinasloe – €40,000
- MADRA, Camus – €12,000
- Pro Animale Ireland, Woodford – €12,000
- Renvyle Cat and Dog Rescue, Renvyle – €1,000
The Minister went on to say said that he was now introducing new legislation on the sale and supply of pet animals, and publishing a voluntary Code of Practice for Sellers and Suppliers of Pets.
Any selling or supplying more than five pet animals in any given year must be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.
All advertisements of pet animals must include certain minimum information about the pet and the seller or supplier, including in respect of dogs, its microchip number.
The Code contains guidelines on animal welfare and also addresses public health concerns, for example the need for good hygiene when handling animals, and the potential risk to the health of children associated with contact with reptiles.
“The introduction of this legislation is the culmination of a public consultation to get the public’s views on the sale and supply of pet animals.”
“I was very pleased with the response, which included views of animal welfare charities and the industry,” Michael Creed said.
