Animal charity launches new horse control campaign

THE DSPCA is hoping to raise much needed funds to aid a new campaign in the rescue and care of horses.

Within a week of announcing their new Snip n’ Chip programme for the low cost castration of stallions in the Dublin area, the DSPCA rescued two injured horses including one on the Southside.

The first horse, a six-year-old stallion that was rescued recently from a field in South Dublin, was found to be suffering from a number of deep wounds which are badly infected.

“This is exactly the reason we need to get a large number of the stallions in Dublin castrated,

? said CEO Brian Gillen.

“There are really too many animals out there which are left unsupervised and uncared for.

“We really do need help in getting the population of horses in Dublin sorted.

?
Blaze, as the stallion has been named by staff in the shelter, is doing very well under veterinary care and is expected to make a full recovery.

The second horse that was rescued by the charity, a young mare nicknamed Sally, is suffering from a serious infection to one of her feet.
Mr Gillen added:

“She is a lucky one who has received veterinary treatment in time to hopefully prevent long term damage.

?

The DSPCA’s Snip n’ Chip programme has been organised in cooperation with UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and the support of Horse Sport Ireland.
It aims to castrate and microchip 100 stallions in the Greater Dublin Area on a subsidised basis.

The initiative will be part funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and was developed in response to comments made by Minister Simon Coveney at the Animal Welfare Conference in May.

‘Snip n’ Chip’ will cost the horse owner

?¬100 and will include the cost of implanting the microchip, passporting and registering the owner’s details on the Horse Sport Ireland database as well as the castration of the animal.

To avail of this Snip n’ Chip Programme for Stallions owners will need to register with the DSPCA by filling in the online form on the website.
A veterinary surgeon will then arrange to inspect the horse to check it is healthy and suitable for castration.

The horses will then be collected and brought to UCD Veterinary Hospital where the animal will undergo the procedure under a general anesthetic.
The animal will be returned within 48 hours.

Proof of owner’s identity must be provided on the day of inspection and day of collection.
Details on the DSPCA’s Snip n’ Chip programme can be found at www.dspca.ie
A

“MyCharity

? fundraising page has been set up to fund this important programme http://www.mycharity.ie/event/dspcasnipnchip