Know the laws - Control of Dogs Information from Citizen’s Information Website. A useful document entitled “Animal Welfare Guidelines For Horses, Ponies and Donkeys” can be downloaded in pdf format from the Department of Agriculture.
If you loose your dog/cat/horse/donkey, etc contact the local dog warden, your local rescue(s), local radio station and the gardai. You can also email your pet’s information to the webmaster of Lost & Found for him/her to be included on their website. By law your dog must be wearing identification at all times, we are aware that sometimes a dog looses his/her identification which is why we strongly recommend you get your pet microchipped, see Fido for more information on this procedure. Equines should possess passports, the process for acquiring one of these includes having a vet microchip and fully document all markings on him/her, for more information check out the Horse Passport Agency website.
Ensure if/when necessary your pet receives veterinary care/treatment. At least one vet visit per year is recommended.
Spay / Neuter your pet.
The Dogs Trust have a neutering scheme operating in Ireland which allows anyone who is in receipt of a Social Welfare Payment
to contact their nearest participating vet for an appointment to have their dog spayed/neutered at the hugely reduced cost of €20.00.
The following is a list of some of the vets participating in the Dogs Trust Neutering Scheme :-
Vincent Ireton Airport Veterinary Clinic 154 Drumgeely Hill Shannon
Eugene Judge Veterinary Clinic Station Road Ennis
Charles Kemmy/Bev Truss Veterinary Clinic Carmody Street Ennis
P.J. O'Driscoll/Philomena Lynch Summerhill Veterinary Clinic Summerhill Ennis
Fergal Hennessy Kilkee Veterinary Clinic 1 Circular Road Kilkee
John Underhill Burrenvets Parliament Street Ennistymon
John Underhill Burrenvets Spanish Point Miltown Malbay
Brian Toland Killaloe Veterinary Clinic Killaloe
Nevin Farrell Shannonside Veterinary Group Henry Street Kilrush
Maria Kopinski/Stefan Ulmer Killacross Veterinary Hospital Clarecastle
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Thomas Rennick
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Thomas Renick Veterinary Clinic
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Church View
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Tuam
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Brian L. O'Lochlainn
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Headford Veterinary Clinic
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Headford
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Teresa McDonagh
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Mountbellow Vets 4 Pets
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Tuam Road
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Mountbellow
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Ms. Karel Verbrubien
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Veterinary Clinic Oughterard
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Camp Street
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Oughterard
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Victoria Nicholson
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Portumna Vet Clinic
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Dominic Street
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Portumna
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Cathal J. Lynch
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Veterinary Clinic
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Whitefriars
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Galway Road
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Tuam
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Hugh Dolan
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Veterinary Clinic
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Ivy Lodge
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River Street
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Ballinasloe
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Ms. Alex Xuereb
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Western Veterinary Clinic
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Galway Road
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Clifden
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Liam Burke
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Ballyhugh Veterinary Clinic
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Gort
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Lisa Geraghty
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Animal Hospital
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Towns Park
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Ballinasloe
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Frank Brody
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JF Brody Veterinary Clinic
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Prospect House
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Athenry
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Aidan Miller
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Ark Veterinary Clinic
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46 St. Mary's Road
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Galway City
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Aidan Miller
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Oran Vet Clinic
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Oranmore Business Park
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Oranmore
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Sean Forde
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Kinvara Veterinary Clinic
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Main Street
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Kinvara
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Pat Rhatigan
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Veterinary Clinic
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Milltown Road
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Tuam
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Caroline Larkin
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Gerard M. Slattery & Associates
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Animal Health Centre
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Barrack Street
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Gort
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Fiona Burke
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Brennan, O'Donnell & McManus Veterinary Clinic
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1A Glenina Road
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Dublin Road
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Galway City
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Ireland is years behind other European Countries, we as a nation are referred to as ‘the puppy breeding capital of the world’ and this is not a compliment by any means. There are numerous myths as to why you should not have this procedure carried out on your pet such as they will get fat and lazy, they will be no good for working, etc but the facts are that by spaying / neutering your pet you are prolonging it’s life by preventing it from getting certain types of cancer, your male dog is less likely to wander or become aggressive when he senses an on-heat female, once your pet receives the correct amount of exercise and is fed a proper diet their weight will not increase, cats are at risk of exposure to FIV (feline aids) if they are mated or involved in fights due to females in season. Many more information on this small but very important operation can be found on Spay Week Ireland’s website. If you are a social welfare recipient you will be entitled to have you dog spayed/neutered through the Dogs Trust Neutering Scheme at participating veterinary surgeries. Another great website for information is Irish Animals.
Lobby your local councillors, tds and representatives, asking them to update and organise better policing of the outdated welfare laws in the country and to get the responsibility of companion animals included in the roles of one of the ministers. In the majority of countries it is the Minister for Agriculture that holds the remit for companion animals within his/her duties. For more information on this subject and other very useful information please go to the website of ANVIL Ireland.
If you have not already done so then please take the time to sign ANVIL’s online petition and forward the link to all your friends and family - ANVIL Petition
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If you know of an animal that is being neglected, abused, mistreated or has been abandoned please report it to your nearest rescue or ISPCA inspector. In rescue we are constantly reminded of the horrific lives some creatures have to endure. In the year 2007 it is a disgrace that the perpetrators of these actions are still getting away with these acts. Please do not ignore it or stick your head in the sand hoping that someone else will do something about it, your details will be kept in the strictest of confidence or if you are afraid of repercussions then you may remain anonymous. Anyone who knows of an animal suffering who does nothing about it is on par with the actual perpetrator as they are permitting it to carry on.
When buying a pet always ensure that you see at least the mother and other siblings if they are present.
It is not a good idea to buy a puppy without going to the persons premises as you
will not know what kind of upbringing/socialising it has had to date.
The mother should look healthy, be of good temperament and be happy in herself showing no unnecessary fear of humans.
If there are a lot of other dogs/pups on the premises then you may be on the premises of a puppy farmer.
If you do purchase or obtain a puppy from someone and you notice anything suspicious
With your help we can reduce the amount of puppies being bred incorrectly and living in bad conditions.
