NSPCA

She Was Still Alive When We Reached Her. On Thursday, we received a call from a member of the public who had found a dog lying in a ditch. She was still alive. One of our team immediately drove to the location, which was thankfully close to our shelter. The kind woman who found her stayed by her side until we arrived, and together they managed to lift her safely from the ditch. The dog was severely underweight and suffering from extensive sores and wounds. She could barely walk, and it was clear she had been living with significant neglect for quite some time. Although she was microchipped, the chip was not registered to an owner. Once again, we are faced with a case where it may not be possible to hold anyone accountable for the suffering this dog endured. We don’t know how she came to be in the ditch, but given her condition, it seems unlikely she could have travelled there on her own. Sadly, despite every effort, it became clear that her condition was too advanced. The kindest thing we could do was to let her go peacefully and with dignity. Our inspectors and veterinary teams deal with heartbreaking situations every week, but some cases stay with you. We’re incredibly grateful to the woman who stopped, cared enough to make the call, and stayed with this little dog until help arrived. Because of her compassion, she did not have to spend her final moments alone. If you see an animal in distress or are concerned about animal welfare, please contact our National Helpline on 1800 264 625. #nspca #animalcharity #ireland #animalwelfare

Ruth Coppinger TD Visits the NSPCA. A longstanding advocate for animal welfare, Deputy Ruth Coppinger has consistently championed legislative reform on issues including hare coursing, greyhound racing and puppy farming. Last year, she introduced a Private Members’ Bill in the Dáil seeking to prohibit fox hunting in Ireland. The visit provided an excellent opportunity to discuss a range of shared animal welfare priorities and the legislative reforms needed to strengthen protections for animals across Ireland. The NSPCA would like to thank Deputy Coppinger for taking the time to visit the Centre and engage in constructive discussions on these important issues. We look forward to continuing to work with Deputy Coppinger and other policymakers to support legislative and policy changes that improve the lives of animals throughout Ireland. #nspca #animalwelfare #ireland #advocacy

Found A Fledging? Between April and September, it is very common to find young birds on the ground. This is fledgling season, and while your first instinct may be to help, most fledglings are not in distress and do not need to be rescued.A fledgling is a young bird that has naturally left the nest and is learning to fly. At this stage, they may spend hours, or even a few days, on the ground or in low vegetation while they develop their flight skills. They can sometimes look almost the same size as an adult bird, but their parents are usually nearby, watching over them and continuing to care for them. 👉🏼WHAT SHOULD I DO? If the fledgling is alert and has no obvious injuries, leave it where it is. - Keep your distance and watch from a safe place. The parents are often close by but may stay away while people are nearby. - Keep dogs on leads and away from fledglings. - Do not feed the bird. Fledglings have specific nutritional needs, and feeding them the wrong food can cause serious harm. - Do not take a healthy fledgling home. Removing a fledgling from its parents can do more harm than good. 👉🏼WHEN SHOULD YOU INTERVENE? - If the fledgling is in immediate danger, for example from a busy road or a cat, you can move it a short distance to a safer nearby location where its parents can still find it by its calls. - If you find a fallen nest, it may sometimes be possible to carefully place it back up off the ground, close to where it was originally found. 👉🏼WHAT IF THE BIRD IS INJURED? - If you can see obvious signs of injury, such as blood, wounds, cuts, or a visibly injured wing or leg, the situation may require intervention. Please contact us by EMAIL ONLY if there are visible signs of injury 👉🏼 info@nspca.ie. Please include: 📸 A clear photo of the bird 📍The location where it was found 📝 A brief description of what you have observed We will respond as soon as possible. ⚠️Remember: A fledgling on the ground is not automatically a bird in need of rescue. The best help you can give is often to leave them where they are, keep your distance, keep pets away, and give their parents the chance to do what they do best. STOP - LOOK - OBSERVE - BEFORE YOU RESCUE.

Ann Graves TD, Réada Cronin TD and Lynn Boylan MEP Visit the NSPCA. The NSPCA was delighted to welcome Ann Graves TD, Réada Cronin TD and Lynn Boylan MEP to its Dublin Animal Centre. NSPCA Director of Advocacy and Policy Conor Dowling, Political Affairs Officer Claire Owens, and Head of Welfare Advocacy and Sustainability Gillian Bird showed them around the centre, providing a first-hand insight into the day-to-day rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming work carried out by the NSPCA. Following the tour, there was a constructive discussion on the NSPCA’s key advocacy priorities and proposals for legislative reform, as outlined in its 2026–2030 Strategy. The NSPCA would like to thank Ann Graves TD, Réada Cronin TD and Lynn Boylan MEP for taking the time to visit and engage in these important discussions. We look forward to continuing to work with elected representatives from across the political spectrum to advance practical, evidence-based reforms that strengthen animal welfare standards throughout Ireland.

Calling All Real Life Superheroes 🌟 We’ve been busy bees and have now rolled out our Volunteer Programme across all our shelter locations including 📍 Wicklow, Longford, Cork & Dublin. We’re always excited to welcome new volunteers to help us make tails wag, kitty purrs, hooves happy, hoppy buns and hearts full 💚 👉🏼 Wicklow & Longford We’re especially on the lookout for some amazing humans to join our teams in Wicklow and Longford. If you’ve got a big heart, a love for animals and a little time to spare, we’d love to have you on board. 🐴 Horse Box Heroes Wanted We’re currently very busy with our equine residents and are looking for some very special volunteers with the appropriate horse box licence to help transport horses between our shelter locations. 🐴 Equine Volunteers Needed Our Longford and Dublin shelters are also looking for experienced equine volunteers to help care for the many horses, ponies and donkeys in our care. Ideally, we’re looking for volunteers who can help mid-week, in the mornings. Whether you’re a seasoned horse whisperer, a four-legged fan, or simply someone who believes animals deserve the very best, there’s a place for you on our team. Register to volunteer with the NSPCA today 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d_XQN2Bx #nspca #volunteer #animalshelter #animalcharity

Last Week’s Group Adoption Our adopters were delighted to receive their adoption packs, generously donated by Chanelle Pharma. A huge thank you to Chanelle Pharma for your continued support and for helping make every adoption even more special.

Corporate Volunteering at the NSPCA A huge thank you to Aviva, Mark Anthony Brands Inc., Wolters Kluwer and Black Shamrock - a Virtuos Studio for joining us at the NSPCA recently. Your time spent with the animals makes a huge difference to their day and overall well-being and for that we are very grateful. If your company is interested in booking a volunteer day, we'd be delighted to welcome you. To find out more, check availability and to book email Becky at corporate@nspca.ie.🐾 #NSPCA #animalshelter #volunteering #thankyou

Over A Year of Care, A Lifetime of Happiness Ahead ❤️ There’s nothing more rewarding than watching another horse leave the shelter after spending over a year in our care. It’s hard to put into words just how much work, dedication and patience go into helping a horse heal and prepare them for a new beginning 🐴 Seeing Púca walk onto the trailer to head off to his forever home was a special moment for everyone who helped make Púca the healthy happy boy that he is today. A special thanks to our equine carer Rebecca, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for the horses in our care 💚 Goodbye, Púca Thank you for letting us be part of your journey. We will miss you so much, but nothing makes us happier than knowing you’re exactly where you belong 💙 Happy trails, beautiful boy🐴 #nspca #animalrescue #animalcharity #rescuehorse

NSPCA Director of Advocacy and Policy, Conor Dowling, and Political Affairs Officer, Claire Owens, were pleased to meet with Deputy Mattie McGrath to discuss his proposed legislation on the prohibition of sulky racing on Irish public roads. The meeting provided an important opportunity to discuss the growing political and public support for stronger action on an issue that has significant implications for both equine welfare and public safety. The NSPCA believes the most effective long-term solution is to introduce a prohibition on all sulky horse activity on Irish public roads, providing greater legislative clarity and supporting more effective enforcement. We also discussed a number of practical measures that could strengthen enforcement in the shorter term, including: -The introduction of a Digital Evidence Management System to allow members of the public to securely submit photographic and video evidence. -An online reporting portal to support intelligence-led investigations by An Garda Síochána. -Stronger cross-agency cooperation to improve enforcement and accountability. The NSPCA welcomes the growing momentum for reform and looks forward to continuing to engage constructively with policymakers to deliver practical solutions that improve equine welfare, strengthen enforcement and protect public safety. If you support a ban on sulky activity on public roads, add your voice by signing the petition today: https://lnkd.in/dFAizV6i #AnimalWelfare #EquineWelfare #PublicSafety #SulkyRacing #Legislation #NSPCA

The Goodbye We Waited So Long For. It’s hard to believe that although Ghost endured such horrific injuries, his big heart and love for humans never changed ❤️ Ghost is a survivor, and a powerful reminder of how the NSPCA changes lives. He arrived with a number of large wounds across his body, one inflicted with such force that it cut through muscle and fractured his spine. He also suffered a significant, deep wound to his left ear. His chances of survival were extremely uncertain, but he fought for his life. On Saturday Ghost was officially adopted and headed off to his new forever home but not before everyone had the chance to say goodbye 🥹 It was an emotional day for the amazing staff and volunteers who cared for this lovable cuddle monster but this is what animal rescue is all about. These moments are why we do what we do. Despite the heartbreak that can come with animal rescue, we keep showing up because every life is worth fighting for. Ghost we wish you nothing but happiness and love… you deserve it boy💚 #nspca #animalrescue #animalcharity #rescuedog