THE ISPCA IS searching for the perfect home for these animals – from the large to the little, they require a special place to live.
Grace O’Brien, fundraising manager of the ISPCA ,said that donkeys and horses are difficult to home, given that they need space and are expensive to keep. “People need to have space,” she explained.
Donkeys are having a particularly hard time at the moment – they used to be big money in the boom times but now they are being discarded.
She explained that a lot of people don’t want to pay to have their male donkeys castrated, and this leads to problems. The ISPCA has taken in many donkeys who have been abandoned and dumped. Donkeys are not equipped for Irish weather, so need shelter, and also need a companion donkey or horse.
Overbreeding
People are overbreeding and not neutering their animals, and among those being overbred are rabbits and goats, as well as pigs. The ISPCA currently has piglets that badly need homes as they weren’t being looked after properly.
What these new owners need to provide is the knowledge, space and ability to feed these animals properly and provide them with shelter.
It’s not a matter of taking them in and dumping them in a field.
When it comes to dogs, people tend to go for the puppies, said O’Brien, making it harder to home an older dog or dog that isn’t as ‘cute’.
Some dogs, particularly huskies, have become very popular, but don’t suit every home. Huskies, for example, need two long walks a day, lots of space and a suitable family. The ISPCA does home checks on all families who want to home an animal.
Below are some animals currently at the ISPCA in Longford looking for their forever home:
Roz was born at the ISPCA National Animal Centre and will be available for rehoming after weaning from her mother Ash in October – or they could be rehomed together straight away.
Ash was abandoned on a mountain and was in very poor condition when rescued by the ISPCA. She is a gentle 13.3hh and will make a lovely riding pony in time when trained.
There are eight adorable black Labrador cross puppies who will be looking for kind loving homes in approximately two weeks’ time.
Charlie is a beautiful one-year-old black collie dog looking for a quiet home, preferably with another dog for company. He needs a patient new owner to show him the love and affection he has been starved of all his life.
Dizzy is an older cat and is looking for a quiet home to see out the rest of her days in luxury. She is vaccinated, treated for parasites, neutered and litter trained.
Stanley is a very handsome and affectionate cat and will be your lifelong friend. He is vaccinated, neutered, treated for parasites and litter trained. Ideally he would love to sleep indoors and have access to outdoors during the day.
Lewis was a much loved Shetland pony but his previous owner could no longer look after him. He is a big personality in a tiny body and arrived at the National Animal Centre with his companion Skye who was suffering from laminitis. Both ponies are friendly and well mannered and are looking for a new home where they will be cared for and loved.
Homer was rescued from unsuitable living condition along with his mate Marge and has since given birth to more piglets. These adorable pigs were not used to human contact but will thrive in a home environment with daily interaction. They will require secure fencing with warm dry shelter with lots of cozy straw.
These adorable little piglets will be looking for homes soon when they are eight weeks old and weaned from their mother Marge. They need to be rehomed in at least pairs or small groups and all will be neutered before rehoming.
Joy is a beautiful Connemara cross pony and will mature to 12 or 13 hands high. She was rescued as a young foal with her mother after they were abandoned. Joy is timid and takes a little time to trust new people. She will make a fantastic pony with a little time and patience. She will need consistent and kind handling.
Ice is one of many donkeys available for rehoming at the National Animal Centre
Kia is one of many dogs looking for a home
The ISPCA has a selection of bunnies looking for new loving homes.
People interested in rehoming animals are invited to visit the ISPCA National Animal Centre, Derryglogher Lodge, Keenagh, Co Longford, on the main R392 between Ballymahon and Lanesborough, Co Longford.
Opening hours: 11.30am to 4.00pm, Wednesdays – Sundays (inclusive) and closed Christmas Day and New Years Day. Tel: 043 33 25035 Email: info@ispca.ie
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