Minister announces animal welfare charities to receive highest funding ever

€6m allocated to 101 organisations on Animal Welfare Awareness Day

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, today (Thursday 7^th December 2023) announced funding of €6 million to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide - an increase of €200,000 on last year. 

This year, there is an additional focus on supporting charities involved in rehoming dogs. This recognises that 2023 has been a particularly challenging year in terms of dog welfare and for those working to rescue, protect and rehome dogs.

The funding announcement was made on the third annual animal welfare awareness day during a visit by the Minister to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA).

Minister McConalogue said “Animal welfare is a priority for me and for my Department and is important to us all in Ireland. I am delighted to announce today that I am providing the highest ever level of funding by my Department to animal welfare charities. These grants will support these organisations in the vital work they do across the country, protecting, rescuing and taking care of animals, and providing education and guidance so as to prevent welfare problems from arising in many cases. I recognise that this year, dog welfare charities have had additional pressures to deal with, and so the increase in funding is focussed on providing additional support for those organisations”.

Urging the public to think carefully before getting a pet this Christmas on Animal Welfare Awareness Day, the Minister cautioned that “owning and caring for a pet is a major, long-term commitment. Before taking on a pet, I would ask people to consider:

• Is this particular type of pet the right choice for you?
• Is your home right for the type of pet you are considering?
• Is your lifestyle suit, and ed to giving the pet the time, energy and exercise it would need?
• Have you carefully considered the financial costs of taking care of an animal, including feed, veterinary care and holiday costs?
• Have you considered the responsibilities of a pet owner? Dogs must be licensed and microchipped, and kept under control according to the regulations.
• Will the pet be responsibly sourced? For example, consider adopting a dog from a shelter or charity.”

Highlighting the important work done by animal welfare charities in Ireland, he said: “I’d like to acknowledge the important work carried out, often in very challenging circumstances, by animal welfare organisations and their dedicated volunteers and staff across Ireland. Animal welfare charities play a crucial role in helping animals in need, educating people, and raising public awareness about improving animal welfare. Responsible pet ownership campaigns can help to reduce the number of dogs abandoned or surrendered, and thus can reduce the pressure on dog shelters and charities. For this reason, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to promote responsible pet ownership.”

Details of the awards are available here