Killkenny city centre, last night.

A candle light vigil for Carlow/Kilkenny rescue dogs.

And a plea for no kill animal shelters.

Maura Rua from Chance Wicklow writes:

We are an advocacy group for pound dogs. We started out some years ago because of concerns about the dog pound in Wicklow. We soon saw the need to broaden our work to other pounds, particularly pounds run by the ISPCA which had high kill rates. The Carlow/Kilkenny pound was run by the ISPCA up to recently and the licence is going out to tender. This is the first time ever the Carlow/Kilkenny dog pound and warden service contract has gone out to tender

In recent years there has been much more awareness of the need for welfare concerns to be addressed in pounds. The mentality of rounding up and killing healthy harmless dogs is abhorrent to those who see a better way forward by rehoming dogs.

Around 99% of pound dogs are rehome-able – it is a complete myth that there are large amounts of savage dangerous dogs in pounds – the only thing wrong with pound dogs is their former feckless owners.

In 2013, the last year for which official figures are available:
Carlow had an intake of 247 dogs of which 64 were killed = 29%
Kilkenny took in 310 dogs of which 66 were killed =21%
Carlow Pound and dog warden service cost €108,000
Kilkenny Pound and dog warden service cost €103,00

In contrast Leitrim took in 529 dogs – roughly the same as Carlow /Kilkenny combined:
Leitrim killed 7 dogs = 1%
Leitrim cost €47,000 to run.
Leitrim Animal Welfare run the county pound for Leitrim.

It is only in comparing what is achieved at other pounds with far fewer resources that a true picture of what is happening can be seen. The statistics then become meaningful.

Chance Wicklow (Facebook)

Thanks Padraig O’Ceallaigh