ISPCA Inspector Jimmy McCormack responded to a call made to the charity’s National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 0818 515 515 regarding animal welfare concerns about several animals being kept at the property.
Inspector McCormack discovered a serious animal overpopulation and overcrowding problem. Animals of various species were being bred, and also retained, with the result that the numbers grew out of control.
There were over 25 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (including four puppies) living in the kitchen of the house. The dogs appeared to be friendly and in generally good health but the noise from their barking was deafening and the environment was extremely stressful. There were also hamsters, mice, a corn snake, a slider terrapin and a musk turtle in the house.
In an outside shed, there were large numbers of rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters confined in overcrowded rusty cages stacked on top of each other. Although basic food, bedding and water was being provided, the conditions were wholly inadequate. The shed was dark with little natural light and ventilation was poor. Several of the rabbits were sneezing and some had runny eyes, and guinea pigs and rabbits were housed together which is not recommended. In addition to the pet animals in the shed, wild mice were also living there and burrowing through the straw.
When the full extent of the situation became overwhelmingly clear, Inspector McCormack called on colleagues for support. The assistance of the Dublin SPCA, Cork SPCA and other animal welfare charities was sought, and a large-scale rescue operation was mounted. The people involved fully acknowledged that the numbers of animals had gotten out of control and had become too much for them. They cooperated fully with the removal of the animals and complied with all instructions given by ISPCA Inspectors.
Subsequent veterinary examinations found that several of the small animals had respiratory issues, their nails were overgrown and one of the rabbits had to have faeces caked on its back end clipped away. Sadly, two of the rabbits had neurological issues and were euthanised on veterinary advice.
Chief Inspector Dowling said: “It was a shock to see so many animals crammed into tiny spaces and cages that were not fit for purpose. Most of the small animals lived their lives in a dark, dirty mouse infested shed with insufficient room to hop around and exhibit natural behaviour. The situation should never have been allowed to get so out of hand but thankfully we were able to intervene before the physical health of the animals deteriorated further. Our priority is the welfare of the animals involved, but we also must be mindful of working with vulnerable people. We encourage members of the public to continue reporting any animal welfare concerns to our helpline”.
ISPCA Animal Welfare Inspectors work tirelessly in challenging situations just like this one, rescuing vulnerable animals from unsuitable living conditions. Such a large intake of animals adds additional strain to already stretched staff resources and finances. We are extremely grateful to the DSPCA and CSPCA who offered to lend their support and take some of these animals into their care for rehabilitation and rehoming to help alleviate pressure on our resources.
If you can support our ongoing rescue work, please consider making a life-saving donation today to support our vital rescue and rehabilitation work by visiting: https://ispca.ie/donations/
We are also urgently in need of rabbit and guinea pig hutches to provide proper care for the animals in our shelter. If you would like to help, please consider donating items from our Amazon Wishlist, which includes hutches and other supplies. You can view and order directly from the list here: https://www.amazon.ie/hz/wishlist/ls/1M18M5UPSOV75.
Many of the rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters will be available for rehoming in the coming weeks. Anyone interested adopting any of these animals can email [email protected] or visit https://ispca.ie/adoptions/ to find out more.
