Cork animal shelter begins stockpiling supplies ahead of Brexit

The Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) has begun stockpiling food and supplies over fears Brexit could impact future deliveries.

Manager of the animal shelter in Mahon, Vincent Cashman told the Evening Echo they were looking to have three months’ worth of a stockpile “just in case" a no-deal Brexit results in delays importing or purchasing essential items for the care of their animals.

“You’re not going to be 100%, but we’re getting there. If people panic we’ll have something,” he said, adding that their disinfectant supplier has built up a year’s stockpile over the same worries.

The CSPCA looks to buy from Irish manufacturers and suppliers wherever possible to help local economies, cut costs, and lower their carbon footprint.

Despite this, Mr Cashman said most of their supply, though bought from Irish suppliers, is manufactured in the UK.

However, he said he was confident that supply problems will not be an issue in the long run. “Everything will sort itself out I think,” he said.

In daily operations, business is as usual in the CSPCA. Other than “a slight jump of dog surrenders after Christmas”, which usually happens in March when gifted puppies or kittens grow into a burden, the issue has remained mostly stable.

"Cork is not any better or worse than anywhere else in Ireland," Mr Cashman said and that animal abandonment is unfortunately “a common problem throughout the country.” Mr Cashman said long-term structural changes are taking place. Over the past five to six years the job has changed as more exotic pets, like iguanas, tarantulas, snakes and ocelots, are being abandoned.

Partly because of this, work is ongoing at the CSPCA for a specialised wildlife unit, for animals such as pigeons and racoons.