Pet service under threat

A POPULAR vet service that has provided free and low-cost treatments to pets in Ballymun for 25 years is facing an uncertain future because its premises is earmarked for demolition.

The Assissi service operated by Dogs Aid was planning to celebrate its silver jubilee this year but instead volunteers are desperately scrambling to find an alternative venue.

The subsidised service has operated from a number of different block basements in the flats since 1988 but permission has now been granted for the demolition of its current premises at Balbutcher Lane.

Despite the determination of volunteers to keep the service running, it’s now facing closure unless a new location can be found before the demolition crew move in.

Rachel Purvis, who works with the Assissi service on Tuesday nights, says volunteers will keep the service running for as long as possible.

“We’re very well known in the area and people rely on us,

? she told Northside People.

“But the fact is we’re supposed to be already gone.

“We have to move out because the block is going to be demolished. We haven’t been given an alternative and it’s very hard to find one.

“We have tried everything we can think of to try and find somewhere but to no avail. We’ve gone everywhere but have had no luck.

?

The service asks for donations from local pet owners for treatments administered and no pet is ever turned away from Assissi. Many owners in the area can’t afford private veterinary care and without the service thousands of animals would have gone untreated over the past 25 years.

Around 30-40 pets are seen by volunteer vets at Assissi every week with three to four necessary operations carried out. The last few weeks have been particularly difficult for the service as officials prepare the block for demolition.

“We’ve no water now because it had to be turned off,

? said Rachel.

“We were also flooded out a couple of times and last week we had to cancel the operations but we still managed to open the clinic.

“We’re just going to keep going.

“We wanted to celebrate 25 years in Ballymun this year but now we really have our backs against the wall.

?

Rachel and other dedicated Assissi volunteers and vets, including Frances Harvey, Maggie Howard and Siobhan Owens, are hoping somebody will come forward with an offer to accommodate the Tuesday night clinic.

Dublin City Council say no funding is available for alternative accommodation and pointed out that Dogs Aid is part of the Ballymun Animal Caring Association (BACA), which has been provided with facilities in Meakstown.

“BRL has provided facilities in Meakstown comprising stables and an adjoining site for use as an animal welfare facility to BACA for the provision of their services,

? a spokesperson said.

“In the discussions and agreements reached with BACA, no provision was included for a veterinary clinic.

?

DCC added that all community lettings in Ballymun were on a week to week basis in space that otherwise would have been vacant.

“We have made every effort to facilitate this group for as long as possible, and they have been facilitated in moving a number of times as the blocks in which they were located were due to be demolished,

? the spokesperson continued.

“DCC has no suitable alternative space available in the area and considers that adequate provision was made by BRL in Meakstown.

?

However, Assissi wants to continue serving the Ballymun population and is looking for space that’s on a ground floor, ideally with about four rooms, and that has running water and electricity.

Local TD John Lyons (Lab) said he’s helping Dogs Aid in their search.

“Dogs Aid has provided its Assissi vet service to the people of Ballymun for over 25 years now and I know a lot of people in the community rely on the service to care for their dogs and other pets,

? he added.

“With Balbutcher Lane and other blocks being de-tenanted, I know a lot of community groups have had difficulty finding new units. I am working with Dogs Aid to search for a new home in the area so this valuable service can continue.

?

Dogs Aid is entirely staffed by volunteers and funded by public donations. It operates an animal sanctuary in Meakstown, Finglas, as well as the Assissi service in Ballymun.

Dogs Aid can be contacted by phone after 12pm on 087-2944310 or 01-8347134 or by email at [email protected]