Pets’ in Limbo as Government Shirks Responsibility

national | animal rights | press release Saturday December 30, 2006 00:30 by Miriam Anderson - ANVIL Ireland info at anvilireland dot ie

Government leave rescue groups and 'pets' out in cold

'Pet' or companion animals are left out in the cold by politicians as there is no government minister with responsibility for their protection and welfare. This has implications for all 'pet' owners as well as abandoned animals and the groups that rescue them.

While Ireland has led the way in relation to other issues, we are way behind the rest of Europe when it comes to the treatment of our animals. In order for us to truly take our place among the 'civilised' countries of the world, this needs to be addressed now.

Animal welfare lobby and representative group, ANVIL Ireland is calling on the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to allocate ministerial responsibility for ‘pet’ animals as a matter of urgency.

With 16,500 mainly healthy dogs and hundreds of thousands of abandoned cats dying every year, there is an urgent need to control the numbers being produced.

According to ANVIL spokesperson, Miriam Anderson, “We have been informed by Minister Coughlan, that her statutory responsibility relates only to the welfare and protection of farmed animals and does not extend to animals kept as pets. The stark reality for 'pet' or companion animals in Ireland is there is no ministerial or departmental responsibility for their welfare and protection".

Despite denying responsibility for ‘pets’, Minister Coughlan announced ex gratia payments to rescue and welfare organisation to the tune of €1,224,000 in December. How can a government minister hand out funding and yet no minister be responsible?

Anderson adds, “Without a minister responsible, we cannot move forward in relation to public attitude, funding, or indeed much needed updated legislation. This is a national scandal and one which successive governments have kept quiet. Many of the problems relating to the overproduction, abandonment and cruelty to animals comes down more to indifference and apathy rather than to actual 'acts' of cruelty. But it’s an apathy and indifference that our government is reinforcing by its own neglect.”

In any event, the latest funding is up just 1.5% on last year which, according to ANVIL, is a cut in inflation-adjusted terms and an insult to the rescue community who provide a much needed public service. “In a country awash with unwanted animals, this is totally unacceptable”, says Anderson. Many independent rescue groups had their funding cut while others were excluded completely.”

Anderson says, “At present we are simply producing companion animals for destruction. As part of its campaign, ANVIL will be lobbying for compulsory microchipping and neutering of pet animals, which will lead to a reduction in the number of unwanted pets as well as ensuring traceability of owners.”

For information on how you can make animal welfare an election issue, contact ANVIL at info@anvilireland.ie or log onto www.anvilireland.ie