City Hall has responded to criticism of its management of the Ballybane dog pound saying it is “well maintained” with care taken to ensure the comfort and welfare of dogs held there.
On Tuesday, the Galway City Council’s director of services for environment and housing, Kevin Swift, issued a statement on City Hall’s management of the dog pound in Ballybane, following concerned raised “particularly on social media”.
In his statement, Mr Swift said the council provides the pound, which is staffed by a dog warden. The facility was upgraded last year to comply with health and safety legislation and City Hall is “committed to meeting its obligations under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and Amendment Regulations 2011”.
Mr Swift said: “The facility is well maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, including the kennels, with due regard at all times to the comfort and welfare of dogs held in the pound. The pound is open to the public at scheduled times to facilitate the taking in of dogs and the re-homing of dogs.”
He added that the city council provides an annual grant of €4,000 to the GSPCA and a grant of €2,000 to Galway Swan Rescue.
