Spay Ireland 2011

Irish Mirror

Irish Examiner

Irish Independent

With Pete Wedderburn (4:34)

Spay benefits

RTE news anchor Sharon Ní Bheoláin is lending her celebrity to speak out for the thousands of unwanted dogs put down in Ireland each year.

Latest figures from the Department of the Environment show that one in three dogs which entered an Irish pound in 2010 died. An average of 14 dogs were put down for every day of the year in Irish dog pounds in 2010. While this represented a drop of 29% on 2009, it still adds up to the shocking destruction of 5,296 unwanted dogs over the entire year.

“One in three dogs who go through the pound system will not make it out alive,” says Sharon, a passionate animal welfare campaigner. “This is a shameful indictment on our animal welfare record and shows we’re not taking our responsibilities as pet owners seriously enough.”

Sharon was speaking at the launch of Spay Ireland 2011 at the Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel Dublin, where she was joined by TV vet Pete Wedderburn and a trio of staffordshire bull terriers puppies for a photocall to promote the annual awareness campaign. Spay Ireland aims to end the destruction of unwanted cats and dogs by reducing unwanted litters and encouraging owners to spay or neuter their pets. Since Spay Ireland (formerly Spay Week Ireland) was first launched in 2002, the annual destruction rate of dogs in pounds has plummeted from 21,367 to 5,296 last year.

The three puppies (John, Edward and Louis) are being cared for by staff at the Dogs Trust care centre in Dublin, from where they will be found new homes. Thousands of other unwanted dogs are not so lucky however.

“When I first began looking at this issue the dog destruction figure was a shocking 30,000 a year, so it would be churlish not to acknowledge that the overall situation is vastly improved. But even one unwanted pet needlessly destroyed in our pounds is one too many.”

Urging pet-owners who have not done so already to have their cats and dogs neutered or spayed, Sharon says the benefits are beyond dispute and adds: “you are doing yourself and your pet a big favour.”

“Ireland can lead the way in protecting vulnerable, unwanted and abused animals but first we need take an informed stance on neutering. It is neither acceptable nor responsible to allow your female dog to have multiple litters and just assume the offspring and their subsequent offspring will find good homes.”

“Spay Ireland is a really worthwhile campaign, one in which every animal lover can play a part by either neutering their own pet or promoting the benefits of pet neutering to others.”

“The fall in the destruction rate shows that the spay and neuter message is getting through, but we still remain among Europe’s worst offenders when it comes to disposing of unwanted dogs and cats,” says TV vet Pete Wedderburn, co-founder of the awareness campaign.

“Prevention is the best cure and that’s why it’s so important to shatter the myths about spaying and neutering – it does not make pets fat and lazy, it will not change their personality and females do not need to have one litter before being spayed. The truth is that spaying or neutering is good for your pet’s health. The risk of cancer plummets, they’re less likely to be aggressive and they live longer as a result.”

Press Release Ends

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT: www.spayireland.ie

For further press information: Contact Jan van Embden
CN Media
Mobile: 087 681 6511
Tel: 01 – 282 9853 Email: jan@cnmedia.ie

Over twenty-five animal welfare groups and other organisations have made a united call urging the Government to progress three key pieces of animal welfare legislation.

In an agreed statement issued at the conclusion of today’s (Sunday 22/05/11) National Animal Welfare Forum, the charities asked the government to “take action to move forward with much needed animal welfare legislation as soon as possible – the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2010, and the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2011. In particular, the content of the proposed Animal Health and Welfare Bill should be published promptly to allow debate to take place.”

Convened by Veterinary Ireland, the National Animal Welfare Forum highlighted a range of key animal welfare issues that included detailed discussions on the plight of unwanted cats and dogs, as well as the widespread neglect and mistreatment of horses due the estimated surplus of up to 20,000 equines resulting from the economic recession.

Other key issues highlighted by the forum included the urgent need for a national centre for the treatment and care of injured wildlife, efforts to tighten up on online animal sales advertising and an overview of pending animal welfare legislation.

The call to progress this legislation is supported by the organisations represented at the Forum. These comprise Veterinary Ireland, ISPCA, the Dublin SPCA, the Irish Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, ANVIL (Animals Need a Voice in Legislation), Irish Wildlife Matters, IrishAnimals.ie Last Hope Animal Welfare Charity, Cork Animal Care Society, Kildare Animal Foundation, Whippet Rescue Ireland, PAWS Animal Rescue Ireland, Auld Dog Rescue, A Dog’s Life, Offaly SPCA, Tipp-Off Animal Rescue, Celtic Animal Lifeline, Moss Veterinary Hospital, Meath SPCA, The Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Trust, Irish Dogs.ie, Irish Council Against Blood Sports, Rural Animal Welfare Resources, Independent Animal Advocacy (West Cork), Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption (MADRA), Ireland’s Equine Crisis, Westie Rescue Ireland, Louth SPCA, www.donedeal.ie and www.buyandsell.ie

Press Release Ends

For further press information contact:
Jan van Embden, CN Media Ltd.
Mobile: 087 681 6511 Tel: 01 282 9853
Email: jan@cnmedia.ie

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate Release (Thursday 19/05/2011)

Have Your Say on Animal Welfare

Members of the public are being invited to have their say on key animal welfare issues, including the continued destruction of thousands of unwanted Irish cats and dogs at a major conference this weekend.

Convened by Veterinary Ireland, the National Animal Welfare Forum marks the launch of this year’s Spay Ireland initiative (formerly Spay Week Ireland), the annual awareness campaign that aims to reduce the country’s toll of unwanted cats and dogs by persuading more owners to spay or neuter their pets.

The forum takes place from 1-5pm on Sunday May 22nd in the Ballroom of the Citywest Hotel, Dublin. It is open to the public and admission is free.

Recently released figures from the Department of the Environment will provide a sobering focus for the forum: these showed that 5,296 unwanted dogs were destroyed in Ireland in 2010.

Other key issues on the agenda include stray cats, horse welfare, online animal sales, wildlife welfare, animal welfare legislation and help for owners who cannot afford veterinary treatment for their pets.

In addition to members of the public, guests representing animal welfare organisations, local authorities, the Gardai and other stakeholders have been invited to attend.

According to Spay Ireland organiser and television vet Pete Wedderburn, the main objectives of the conference are to inform interested parties of all recent developments in animal welfare, gather feedback and reach a consensus of the best ways to promote animal wellbeing.

“Because public support is critical to achieving our aims we are issuing an open invitation to members of the public to come along and give us their views. All are welcome,” he says.

For further information visit:
www.spayireland.ie or
www.veterinaryireland.ie

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Pete Wedderburn is available for interviews.
For further press information contact: Jan van Embden, CN Media Ltd. Mobile: 087 681 6511 Tel: 01 282 9853 Email: jan@cnmedia.ie

Note to Editors:
· The attached agenda sets out details of the speakers addressing the Forum and the issues they will discuss. A further press release will be issued at the conclusion of the Forum on Sunday.
· Media representatives are welcome to attend the Forum – see attached invitation.