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* WARNING *

The image at the top of this article is from the USPCA‘s hard hitting advertising campaign to appeal to the Northern Ireland public to be aware of the tragic consequences of puppy farming. The image is distressing because puppy farming is distressing. Kingdom Cat & Dog Rescue (KCADR) just got a phone call from a very […]

Remember Me Thursday – 24th Sept

Remember the fabulous initiative Remember Me Thursday? Started by the Helen Woodward Animal Centre in America, it’s an adoption drive with a difference – and with international relevance. Your participation is key to promoting companion animal adoption from shelters and rescues – and saving lives! What does it involve? – lighting a candle on Remember Me Thursday, September 24, […]

Beara Animal Rights Action Project

On Monday, 24th February, I set off for Castletownbere on the beautiful Beara peninsula. I was to meet Shonagh, one of the excellent vets from Kenmare Veterinary Centre. With her was Shadow (picture to come), an adorable three-legged rescue animal representative, and we’d all been invited to input to the Beara Community School‘s CSPE Animal Rights Action Project on […]

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL)

[16/11/14 Updated with Research and Light links & info] I was recently contacted about a staffie taken by the dog warden, presumed aggressive, and marked for death as a result (see their FB page Save Ruby for more info). While I have a fair understanding – and disagreement with – BSL it made me realise how little information I […]

What Kind of Animal are You?

Well, if you’re reading this, you’re probably a human animal! And I’m guessing you’re interested in animal welfare, or you wouldn’t be visiting my pages. What I really want to look at here is where you lie on the Animal Welfare/Animal Rights scale. Do you know? Why Does It Matter? If you’ve ever been involved […]

What To Do When Your Dog Goes Missing

UPDATE: From 31st of March 2016, it has been a legal requirement for all dogs & puppies to be microchipped. Failure to comply with the legislation could result in a fine of up to €5,000. Interesting stats today from a UK survey by OnePoll on behalf of the Dogs Trust – What happens when dogs go […]

Pound Statistics 2005-2013

This year’s statistics for Irish dog pounds have just been published by environ.ie. Folk seemed to find the analysis I did last year pretty useful so I figure I’ll do the same thing again. As a result, while the figures are slightly different, the text may not have changed much. I’m gonna crack open a bottle of […]

Why Home Check?

We’ve done a couple of homechecks recently for A Dog’s Life and West Cork Animal Welfare Group – one for a dog and one for a puss. And, of course, I’ve done homechecks all through the years for myself and the other organisations I volunteer for. I often get asked why we homecheck and thought […]

Dog Fighting & Reporting

The ASPCA designated April 8 as National Dog Fighting Awareness Day (NDFAD) to advance the conversation about dog fighting and to encourage animal lovers across the US to take action against this brutal form of animal cruelty – find out more here. While the information will be specific to America, it will undoubtedly translate fairly easily to Ireland. Their article has […]

Prohibition on animal cruelty. Oh! Except in blood sports.

Just having a dip into the new Animal Welfare Act 2013. The Irish government are admitting that hunting, coursing and fishing are cruel. But they’re not going to do anything about it. Am sure I must be misunderstanding but …

Reporting Internet Animal Cruelty, Abuse and Crimes

Mostly from Eagle’s Den Rescue. I’ve added the bit about Ireland. If you come across a facebook page, website, video, or other things on the internet you might find, that promotes/supports violent acts, animal cruelty, abuse, crimes, etc … it’s hard to know what to do, but you can do something, and here are instructions […]

The Right Thing to Do

You may remember I posted about stray animals, specifically wandering sheep, a couple of days ago. With the research I did as a result, and the feedback I got, here’s a summary of what to do when you find stray farm and/or companion animals wandering on public roads. See the original article here.

Indifference Strikes Again

WARNING! Disturbing Image. Yesterday afternoon several people told me of a wee, dead, runover dog up by the Maritime, just at Bantry House’s back gates. When I went over to check I found the wee thing, looking like he’d been perfectly healthy before his encounter with a car, lying on the pavement. A green collar […]