We thank Presenter, John Greene, for advance information on this week’s radio documentary. (S.R.)
Animal neglect, cruelty or abuse is still a major problem in Ireland today. According to the Dublin Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, Ireland is known as the ‘Puppy farm Capital’ of Europe.
But it’s not all negative news, because throughout the length and breadth of the country, there are many groups working tirelessly and often voluntarily in the interests of animal welfare.
This week on ‘Where the road takes me’, John Greene visits the West Cork Animal Welfare Group at their kennels in Owenahincha. They were founded in 1999 in response to a desperate need to help unwanted, abandoned, neglected and abused animals in West Cork.
We meet people who foster, adopt, fundraise and showcase the work of the group.
We bring you the story of ‘Toffee’, the little Yorkshire terrier who had suffered serious neglect and cruelty, and suffered with a broken paw for twelve months, before it was discovered.
We meet a member of ‘Friends Forever’, a Swedish animal welfare group, and discover the huge difference between animal welfare legislation in both countries.
We look into the ongoing problem of puppy farms. Campaigners say that recent legislation has done nothing to curb the problem. However, Clonakilty based veterinary surgeon Martha Stefan tells us that there is a simple solution, if only people would take the same care when purchasing a puppy as they do when selecting a new phone or car.
‘Where the road takes me’, this Sunday evening at 7, on C103.
