This article is from page 16 of the 2013-11-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
ALMOST 500 horses and dogs have been put down in the county so far this year by animal welfare services, a number that far exceeds figures for central London.
As many as 452 dogs were euthanised by the ISPCC acting for Clare County Council, with 37 horses also put down during 2013 to date.
This is an average of 11 animals every week and more than one a day.
According to Anne Haugh, Director of Services, Environment and Water Services, as many as 962 dogs and horses were impounded by agencies acting on behalf of Clare County Council.
The majority of the animals impounded or surrendered were dogs, with 915 canines taken in.
Of these 452 were re-homed including 148 who were re-claimed by owners.
As many as 47 horses were impounded by the authorities in Clare this year, with 10 released back to their owners.
A total of 37 horses were put down however.
“In the case of dog control, the council has an agreement with the ISPCA to carry out all of the coun cil’s functions, other than the taking of prosecutions or the making of Bye Laws under the 1986 Control of Dogs Act,” explained Ms Haugh.
She was responding to questions from East Clare county councillor Cathal Crowe (FF), who said the number of animals destroyed each year pointed to fundamental flaws in dog control laws.
“In all of the metropolitan London area, which has two local authorities and a population of eight million people, 320 dogs were euthanised last year,” he said adding that the figure for County Clare far exceeds that.