Latest news with #WicklowAnimalWelfare
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘With two dogs and three cats, plus four children, my house is total chaos, but I wouldn't have it any other way' – Jennifer Whitmore on her rescue pets
The Social Democrats TD wouldn't part with her rescue dogs and cats, but highlights the need for better animal welfare Today at 21:30 With two dogs and three cats in residence – not to mention four children – my house is total chaos, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's wonderful for children to have pets around; each of our kids has their own go-to pet and that's lovely. You can learn a great deal from being close to animals and our lot definitely bring so much to our lives. Our oldest dog Bobby is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We don't really know his backstory because he was a rescue dog, but we think he's 17 years old now. It's a great age, alright, but he has always been a very relaxed dog – when he first arrived with us when he was young, he was only in the house a few days before he was very well acquainted with the sofa. He totally took over! We also have Daisy now. She was three when we got her from Wicklow Animal Welfare. She's a lovely Llewellin Setter – like an English Setter – and she is such a baby. She didn't have a good start in life because she was kept outside in a horsebox all the time and used purely for breeding purposes. I'll never forget how she looked when we first saw her – she was so sad. Poor Daisy; she'd never had a puppyhood. Well, she may be five years old at this stage, but she's having it now! As if the two dogs aren't enough to deal with, we also have the cats. Teddy Blue was rehomed with us from the North, and then we also got George and Lizzie. They're all great cats but George in particular seems to get loads of attention – my husband adores George and even Daisy the dog is besotted with him. Daisy just sits there, staring at him; you'd love to know what she's thinking. We have a house full of pets but I didn't have any at all when I was growing up in Wexford. When I lived in Australia for 10 years or so, my husband and I did have two indoor cats but, to be honest, owning and looking after pets has been a great new experience for me. There's sadness too, of course. We had a Golden Retriever called Holly and she died about three years ago; it is so heart-breaking when you lose a pet. There are some very serious issues around animal welfare in this country. It's a big problem and we need to introduce proper reform. There are far too many dogs being bred here. Just look at the rescue centres – all of them are full of beautiful dogs that have just been dumped. As a society, we really need to get our act together. When it comes to my own pets, I'm lucky; they bring so much to my life. I just love just sitting quietly at times and snuggling with them. It's actually quite meditative. Bobby is happy enough these days with a short walk along our road but Daisy loves going to the beach for a run. Yes, my house is certainly chaos with the dogs and cats all mooching around, but I wouldn't be without a single one of them. As told to Roslyn Dee
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Wicklow dog owners offered ‘snip and chip' discount to encourage neutering
From speaking to some members of the public, the rescue centre's founder Fiona Gammell believes that in some cases the "exorbitant' vet charges on offer have a bearing on the ability of dog and cat owners to be able to afford to get their pets neutered. 'We heard at least two cases where two different vets in Co Wicklow were quoting €900 and €700 respectively for neutering XL Bully dogs,' added Fiona. 'This is far more than should be expected, especially from those on limited incomes. We did a 'snip and chip' for XL Bullys for €100. The owner paid €100 and Wicklow Animal Welfare paid the rest. That scheme has now ended. We had 108 dogs neutered on that scheme alone. Like every service provider, you can shop around and get the best value available.' She added: 'There can be a huge difference in prices charged from one vet to another, even in the same area, and from one county to another. I think the veterinary profession should come together and offer their own reduced rate schemes for those pet owners who cannot afford to neuter their animals on their own. 'Rescues can only do so much, but we need to have a concerted plan to help and prevent the overpopulation of unwanted animals. We cannot do that on our own and in light of no government intervention or help being mooted, it would appear that the situation will only get worse.' In addition to neutering, Fiona is keen to press home to dog owners just how important it is to get your pet microchipped, with very few of the dogs who pass through Wicklow Animal Welfare before being rehomed arriving already chipped. Fiona said: 'Only one in every hundred of dogs we take in here are neutered, and only five in every one hundred dogs we take in are microchipped. Microchipping of canines became law ten years ago, it is against the law to have a non microchipped dog in your possession. Microchipping is the only real way to definitively determine ownership of a dog and is a big part of responsible dog ownership.' If you wish to book an appointment for your collie or collie cross to be neutered at Avondale Vet Clinic in Rathdrum on the Wicklow Animal Welfare Scheme then contact Mairead Nolan on 0404 46217.
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Co Wicklow dog owners offered ‘snip and chip' discount to encourage neutering
From speaking to some members of the public, the rescue centre's founder Fiona Gammell believes that in some cases the "exorbitant' vet charges on offer have a bearing on the ability of dog and cat owners to be able to afford to get their pets neutered. 'We heard at least two cases where two different vets in Co Wicklow were quoting €900 and €700 respectively for neutering XL Bully dogs,' added Fiona. 'This is far more than should be expected, especially from those on limited incomes. We did a 'snip and chip' for XL Bullys for €100. The owner paid €100 and Wicklow Animal Welfare paid the rest. That scheme has now ended. We had 108 dogs neutered on that scheme alone. Like every service provider, you can shop around and get the best value available.' She added: 'There can be a huge difference in prices charged from one vet to another, even in the same area, and from one county to another. I think the veterinary profession should come together and offer their own reduced rate schemes for those pet owners who cannot afford to neuter their animals on their own. 'Rescues can only do so much, but we need to have a concerted plan to help and prevent the overpopulation of unwanted animals. We cannot do that on our own and in light of no government intervention or help being mooted, it would appear that the situation will only get worse.' In addition to neutering, Fiona is keen to press home to dog owners just how important it is to get your pet microchipped, with very few of the dogs who pass through Wicklow Animal Welfare before being rehomed arriving already chipped. Fiona said: 'Only one in every hundred of dogs we take in here are neutered, and only five in every one hundred dogs we take in are microchipped. Microchipping of canines became law ten years ago, it is against the law to have a non microchipped dog in your possession. Microchipping is the only real way to definitively determine ownership of a dog and is a big part of responsible dog ownership.' If you wish to book an appointment for your collie or collie cross to be neutered at Avondale Vet Clinic in Rathdrum on the Wicklow Animal Welfare Scheme then contact Mairead Nolan on 0404 46217.
