An increase in the number of horses being abandoned is an unfortunate consequence of the demise of the Celtic Tiger, according to County Veterinary Officer Sean O’Laoide, who addressed county councillors at Monday’s meeting.
Councillors were particularly perturbed at the news that large numbers of horses are being abandoned by their owners when they are unable to provide for them, and that Mr O’Laoide believed the problem could escalate as times get harder.
“There is a potential problem with horses being abandoned. Grass is getting scarce and there is very little hay. If horse owners are not able to cope in the economic climate and are having trouble affording feed, etc, they can in confidence contact their local authority,” said Mr O’Laoide.
Cllr John Dolan said the Department of Agriculture was “passing the buck back to local authorities”, as all local authorities are responsible for the control of horses in their area under the Control of Horses Act 1996.
“The department encouraged schemes with horses, so it is a bit rich for them to pass the buck back to the local authority,” he remarked.
Councillors were also critical that there was no system in place to tag horses, or indeed dogs, so that their owners could be held responsible for their welfare.
“Surely the onus should be on the owner to control their horses or dogs. Why can a tagging system not apply to horses and dogs?” asked Cllr Paddy Hill.
Mr O’Laoide agreed that there is a need for a single database to track all horses in the country. “A horse only needs to be microchipped if it requires a passport; there is no single database and no requirement for papers to transfer ownership. We have asked the department to implement a requirement for change of ownership forms and microchipping for horses, and also for dogs, and I hope this will be brought in.”
He added that although there is an ongoing problem with dogs being abandoned, Westmeath was not suffering badly yet. However, he told councillors that the majority of stray dogs that are brought to shelters have to be put down. “Those that can be re-homed are, but realistically most are put down. We have 15 times the rate of stray dogs in the UK, we have a different culture. We have now started to go into schools to start education programmes. We need three things; the proper identification of dogs, the spaying of dogs if they are not going to breed, and programmes promoting responsible animal ownership.”
Councillors united in complimenting Mr O’Laoide for the work he has carried out since his appointment as County Veterinary Officer in 1990.
New legislation is to be brought in later this year with the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2009, which will expand the role of the local authority into animal welfare.
