CAVAN COUNTY COUNCIL has denied claims that animals at its pound will be put to sleep next week in order to allow staff to take their summer holidays.

A spokesperson for the local authority in charge of running the pound told TheJournal.ie that the six dogs currently homed at the pound will be temporarily looked after by Cavan Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The SPCA will step in when the lone staff member at the pound goes on annual leave from next Friday, 19 August.

The response comes after internet speculation this week that animals at the pound would be put to sleep while the staff member is unavailable.

The council says their policy is to put down animals who are dangerous or ill, but maintains they work closely with the SPCA to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

Dogs are kept at the pound for a minimum of 5 days before they can be re-homed – if a home can’t be found they are put down.

Cavan SPCA and Killarney-based rescue centre AHAR work with the pound on an ongoing basis to ensure that all dogs who can be re-homed, are re-homed.

Of the six dogs currently at the pound, some of them were only taken in today, so it’s not yet clear whether they will be successfully rehomed.

Lost & Found Pets Ireland has been working to raise money for the re-homing of the dogs through its Facebook page.

Earlier, Co Kerry-based Animal Heaven Animal Rescue founder Suzanne Gibbons thanked donors for their help in re-homing dogs.  She has also appealed to anyone who can offer a space to one of the dogs to contact her centre.

Meanwhile, Cavan County Council says it is not aware of any efforts to raise money for the pound, but said it supports any effort that ensures the health and welfare of the dogs.

It costs the local authority more than €86,500 a year to run the pound, over €80,500 of which comes from dog licence fees.