Dramatic Increase in Horse Seizures in South Dublin County Council.

469 Horses seized in the County. Costing €250.000 to the local authority.

Cllr Gino Kenny said, “Obviously these figures are both shocking on welfare grounds and the financial costs to the local authority. Its represents a 33% increase from last year’s seizures of all horses in the county. This dramatic increase has many nuances in why there is this sizeable increase. For all seizures in 2014 50% (237) horses were seized in the Clondalkin electoral area. The Control of Horse Bye Laws and mass impounding is clearly not the only response to this perpetual problem.

“South Dublin County Council recently announced that as part of their capital programme in 2015 they will commit €50,000 to the funding of an equine project in Clondalkin. The Department of Agriculture and Marine have also stated that they would contribute significant funding as part of their urban equine welfare initiative”.

“In terms of these figures there is an onus and imperative from all parties that the local authority and the Clondalkin Equine Club work together to at least address this dreadful cycle of misery. The club and was set up a number of years by responsible horse’s owners to address the ongoing issue of impounding”.

“The club’s plan is to provide stabling and equine education for horse owners in Clondalkin. Where social horse projects have been up and running it has made an impact to the amount of horses impounded in their respective local authority. The local authority are now examining a number of sites for the possible location for an equine project.”

Figures for all horse seizures in 2013 and 2014 below.

2013

Horses Seized – 322

Horses Euthanised – 285

Horses Reclaimed – 23

Horses Rehomed – 16

2014

Horses Seized – 469

Horses Euthanised – 422

Horses Reclaimed – 22

Horses Rehomed – 12

13 horses still in pound as of the end of year 2014.

Costs to South Dublin County Council in the year 2014 €256,000.