Call for animal welfare officer in Mayo

Mayo County Council has been asked to appoint an animal welfare officer.

Cllr Donna Sheridan made the call at a meeting of the council's Environment and Climate Change Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) after it was announced that four local animal welfare organisations will receive funding - North West SPCA (€25,500), Mayo SPCA CLG (€22,000), Ainmhithe (€1,500) and Madra CLG (€1,000).

Cllr Sheridan thanked the council’s environment department for finalising the allocations, adding that animal charities provide a vital service mostly through volunteer efforts and need all the support they can get. She said a number of years ago a sum of €15,000 had been budgeted to provide for an animal welfare officer, but no officer was recruited.

“There is a lot of animal cruelty out there," she said. "All charities would be gone beyond crisis point without the funding assistance they are getting. It is a sad situation and we need the local authority to get an animal welfare officer as a matter of urgency.” 

The call was supported by forum members.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.