Three Cavan animal welfare groups receive funding

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has announced a batch funding to organisations involved in safeguarding animal welfare throughout the country. The payments will be made to animal welfare charities including three from County Cavan.

Earlier this year the Department invited applications from animal welfare bodies throughout the country for ex-gratia funding. Today (Tuesday December 20) Minister Creed announced the three grants to Cavan animal welfare groups.
Under the funding Cavan SPCA, Shankill, Cavan will receive €27,000, Kitten Cottage, Lurganboy in Virginia receives a grant of €4,500 and Lily's Rescue, Annagherin in Shercock will be the recipient of €3,500.

Concepta Lennon, treasurer of Cavan Society for Prevention of Cruelty for Animals, said that the funds are vital for the continued work of the charity: “All the money goes toward tending for the animals in our care. Our main expenses are vets bills and food. Twice a year, in February and October, we do a week of spaying and neutering for cats. That costs a lot of money. In a normal month the vet bills are around €2,000.”

Concepta said that the money comes at a busy time for the charity: “Tina Boyle looks after over 40 dogs in the shelter and we have a number of animals in foster care. There are also quite a number of puppies in care. Christmas is a busy time for animal welfare groups.”

“We depend on this funding every year, but we are not guaranteed it. At the end of the year any money left over is divided between the charities. You never know how much is to be allocated, so it is hard to plan ahead. We need every penny we can get.”

The charity would like to build an animal sanctuary, but funding targets for such a project make it an aspiration rather than a short term plan. The CSPCA's treasurer said: “The support from the State and the general public is vitally important for our continued existence.”

Cavan Fine Gael Senator, Joe O'Reilly commended the three charities for their efforts: 'These organisations do great work by looking after animals that are surrendered, abandoned and at risk. It is timely to remind people not to buy pets for their children unless they are confident that they will be kept and cared for properly in the long term.”