The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has successfully rehomed 603 cats and dogs following the 2016 closure of a research facility in Co Mayo.
It took the ISPCA more than 12 months to remove all the animals — 346 dogs (mostly beagles) and 257 cats — from Charles River Laboratories after authorisation was granted by the Health Products Regulatory Agency (HRPA).
All of the animals had to be neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and health checked by veterinary surgeons before they could be rehomed.
Many of the dogs also had to be resocialised for new living environments and situations as explained by ISPCA Centre manager Eva Ellis.
‘After the trial group of dogs and cats was removed from the facility, we began working closely with staff at the facility who were extremely co-operative and the challenge began to prepare the rest of the animals for release from February 2017,’ she said.
‘A natural home environment was created to include a television, sofa and washing machine to help prepare them for the outside world, which saved a lot of time and maximised our resources.
‘An external compound was built to include different structures and toys were also provided. It was heart-warming to watch the animals witness sunshine, walk on the grass and to even see snow and rain for the first time.
‘The animals settled in really well and we spent a considerable length of time socialising them and introducing them to other animals to prepare them for their new lives once they were ready to be rehomed.’
ISPCA started in December 2016 by removing 10 dogs and 12 cats on a trial basis with the assistance of Dogs Trust Ireland and Cat Protection.
The trial was the first of its kind in Ireland and proved successful, allowing small groups to then be removed on a monthly basis.
ISPCA is still seeking homes for nine of these beagles and 15 cats available for adoption and is appealing to anyone looking to get a new pet to always consider adopting from a rescue rather than buying one.
Check out some images of the animals rehomed: