Mayo County Councillor Mark Duffy is calling for an Animal Welfare Officer.

Only an officially appointed Animal Welfare Officer has the authority to take action when extreme animal abuse is occurring on private premises.

Even though in Mayo we have animal welfare charities like the North West SPCA, these charities do not have the authority to enter private premises, even under extreme circumstances. Only an officially appointed Animal Welfare Officer has this authority. You may like to think the Department of Agriculture or the Gardai would step in to rectify the problem but they DO NOT, especially regarding dogs.

The above picture is of a dog that was locked in the boot of a car. At this premises, there were many other dogs in similar circumstances locked in small boxes or cages and clearly starving. 

When I asked the Gardai to open the boot of the car in order to rescue the dog, the Gardai refused to allow the dog to be rescued and stated, “Ah he's still alive, he can keep him". At this premises the man in question is a serial animal abuser and has been known for this for around 20 years, but he is still allowed to keep animals. This should never happen. 

Please support Mayo County Councillor Mark Duffy in his endeavours to improve animal welfare by emailing him via cllrmarkduffy@mayococo.ie and telling him why you believe we need an Animal Welfare Officer.

Your support in this petition is crucial in order to show the government that an Animal Welfare Officer is vital. 

Thank you.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" 

Gandhi.