Animal welfare officer urgently needed in Mayo

THE appointment of an animal welfare officer for County Mayo has to be prioritised.

The call comes as a council committee has recommended grant payments totalling €50,000 for animal welfare charities.

The following payments were recommended at a meeting of Mayo County Council's environment committee: Ainmhithe, €1,500; Madra, €1,000; Mayo SPCA, €22,000; and North West SPCA, €25,500.

Councillor Donna Sheridan hailed the work of the charities, much of it volunteer led, saying that without them we would be gone beyond crisis point.

However, the appointment of an animal welfare officer for the county is vital and she was supported in asking for a report.

In the past number of years they had allocated money out of the budget for an officer, but it hasn't been spent, and she wants to see it back on the agenda as a priority for the committee.

It is a matter of urgency, said Councillor Sheridan, who said there is a lot of cruelty out there.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme