Viewing kennels at CSPCA reopen following upgrade works to Mahon facility 

The viewing kennels at the Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) in Mahon have reopened following the completion of upgrade works at the Mahon-based facility.

Existing kennels have been refurbished and a new canine maternity ward has also been developed.

“We did a refurbishment job in our isolation kennels, which would be the first port of call where our dogs would go when they come into us,” CSPCA manager, Vincent Cashman, told The Echo.

“There was new floors put in there, a resurfacing of the walls – basically just a refurb of the whole thing.

“Then we built two new puppy units.

“Any bitches that come in with pups now will be kept in those units which are independent to all the other kennels, for disease transfer and things like that.”

Funding for the works was provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

“They made money available around December time for local authorities or local authority kennels to do some work or improvements to equipment and so on. Cork City Council got onto us and said could we come forward with a bit of a plan.

“We did and it was okayed and that allowed us then to carry out all those extra works,” Mr Cashman said.

The works took approximately five months to complete. Viewing kennels at the facility have now reopened to the public from 10am-12pm and 2pm-3.30pm Monday to Friday.

“The viewing kennels are open to the public, so they can go in and have a walk around.

“They can see the dogs inside in the kennels. But if they want meet and greets or one-to-one that’s still by appointment based on an adoption form,” Mr Cashman said.

Over the years, the CSPCA has continuously appealed to people looking for a pet to adopt and not shop.

Mr Cashman said the facility has an ongoing struggle at present when it comes to capacity.

“We’re always kind of borderline capacity at the moment. You could get two out and you’re getting them replaced very, very quickly,” he said. “There’s an awful lot of dogs and a lot of animals being dumped at the moment.”