'Council has duty of care to ensure no cruelty to animals in Cork', says councillor following call for new safeguarding measures

A Fianna Fáil county councillor has critcised the council executive for its response to a motion she brought calling for a suite of measures to safeguard the wellbeing of the animals in the county.

Audrey Buckley, a councillor in the Carrigaline district, had proposed a motion calling for the establishment of a 24-hour animal welfare hotline, regular inspection of animal breeding facilities and public awareness campaigns as a means for the council to “demonstrate its commitment to upholding and advancing animal welfare standards”, ensuring incidents of animal cruelty and neglect would be reduced.

In a response Cork County Council divisional manager Michael Lynch, said that the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine had the primary responsibility for animal welfare in the country.

“Cork County Council’s functional responsibilities in this area relate to dog control, including dog licensing, stray dogs, dangerous breeds etc as well as the control of stray horses,” Mr Lynch said.

He also said that the department and the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) both operated animal welfare helplines.

Mr Lynch said the council’s veterinary inspection staff had transferred to the department since January, and they were responsible for inspection of dog breeding establishments as well as for delivery of awareness campaigns.

Ms Buckley said that while grateful for the clarification, she was disappointed that the council seemed to redirecting her proposal.

“Regardless of the division of duties between the Council, DAFM and other agencies, it seems to me that Cork County Council has a duty of care to its constituents in ensuring all animals are treated humanely within its jurisdiction.”

She said the situation regarding animal welfare in the county was causing a lot of frustration.