The ISPCA Victor Dowling Equine Rescue Centre
The ISPCA Victor Dowling Equine Rescue Centre based in Dromsligo, Mallow, Co Cork opened in June 2007 as a direct result of the urgent requirement for such a facility to accommodate cruelly treated and neglected equines in the south of the country.
The dedicated ISPCA Animal Cruelty Helpline received 324 calls relating to equines in 2007. We have already received 263 calls relating to equines for the first half of 2008.
A significant number of the seized equines are held on behalf of statutory bodies such as the Gardai and the Society is required to hold these pending Court Proceedings.
This often means that many of these unfortunate animals have to be retained by the ISPCA for protracted periods.
The ISPCA, our Member Societies and other animal welfare organisations throughout the country are dealing with an increased number of horses, old barren mares, broken down racehorses, laminitic ponies and, sadly, badly abused trotting /sulky horses. Unfortunately in the majority of these cases there is nowhere available to rehabilitate these unfortunate animals.
