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ISPCA Inspectorate joined by TV3 crew at Ballinasloe Horse Fair
ISPCA representatives were again in attendance at the busiest days of the Ballinasloe Horse Fair this year. While this is an annual event for our Inspectors, this year was different due to the presence of the crew from TV3’s Animal A&E programme.
The crew were there to shadow the ISPCA Inspectorate as they monitored the welfare of animals at one of Europe’s largest horse fairs. The events that they captured will be featured on the new series of Animal A&E which goes to air in January 2012.
Chief Inspector Conor Dowling said “Animal A&E’s viewers will get a unique insight into the work done by the ISPCA at the fair and the formidable challenges that we face. We have a small team of Inspectors patrolling at an event attended by 80,000 people and several thousand animals”.
The Inspectors were kept busy throughout the time they were there tackling various welfare issues which they encountered or which were reported by concerned members of the public attending the fair.
Despite the fact that the event is a horse fair, ISPCA officials spent the majority of their time dealing with problems concerning the huge numbers of dogs and puppies which were being offered for sale around the fair green. Chief Inspector Dowling added “The volume of dogs and fowl being sold at the fair grows year on year and is an increasing problem for us. We have repeatedly stressed to the organisers our belief that the sale of these animals should be either regulated or eliminated altogether. In my view, the sight of young puppies being sold in large numbers at the side of the road is tarnishing the reputation of the Ballinasloe Fair.”
One pony and a total of thirteen dogs were taken into the care of the ISPCA during the course of the weekend. Most were pups which were too young to be away from their mothers or which were infested with fleas and worms. All are well on their way to recovery and will be available for rehoming in the coming weeks.
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