An exhausted animal shelter worker has pleaded for volunteers to help her.
Louth SPCA inspector Fiona Squibb is currently putting in seven days at week at the organisation’s shelter near Dundalk, and said “I can’t keep going on like this.”
The 69-year-old has a team of committed and valued volunteers but she says she needs more.
Her plea comes as the organisation is recovering after the premises was broken into and ransacked two weeks ago.
The culprit broke locks on the door to Fiona’s office and ransacked the mobile home used by the volunteers.
Bleach and sterilising fluid were thrown around and the plumbing pipes were dismantled.
In the days that followe. Fiona found heat pads and hot water bottles, used in the winter to keep the animals warm, had been taken.
She said: “Thankfully none of the animals were harmed and the gardai are investigating.”
Fiona has been doing the job on a voluntary basis for 18 years.
She takes calls from the public who are concerned about possible animal neglect or lost animals and has worked with gardai on several animal cruelty investigations.
The Louth SPCA is supported by an annual grant from the Department of Agriculture and it has strong local support.
Fiona said since the break-in the response from the public has been “overwhelming and just brilliant”.
She added: “People are stopping me in the street to give support and they are dropping out new bedding and food.”
However, she said she really needs to increase her team of volunteers working at the kennels.
Fiona added: “I used to have 25 and now it is down to about 10. I need more.”
She said people do not have to commit a large number of hours but she does want them to be involved on a regular basis.
Fiona believes knowledge is key to understanding animal welfare and if she had more volunteers she would no longer need to be at the kennels so much.
She said: “If I had the help I could be out on the road and doing more education.
“It is at the stage I may have to pull back and reduce the hours we are open here to the public. I need more help as I can’t go on like this.”
If you are interested in helping email: info@louthspca.ie.
