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089 4612537

info@fingalspca.ie
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Fingal S.P.C.A.

Fingal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Regina

Thank You

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THANK YOU

Donations of any size are incredibly important to charities.  They enable us to continue our work and reserve our cash for the bills we need to pay.

So we were DELIGHTED to receive three incredibly generous donations from the Kinsealy Pet Store, Maxizoo Clarehall and Lidl Swords recently.

Maxizoo and Kinsealy Pet Store donated food for cats, dogs and rabbits, some litter, treats and 3 carriers, which will be so useful when we trap, neuter and return some of the wild cat population.

And the Lidl vouchers will be spent on food, litter and other essentials for the animals.

So thank you very much to Lidl Swords, Maxizoo and Kinsealy Pet Shop for their generous donations, the Society and the animals in our care, really appreciate it.

lidl ireland
Maxizoo logo
Kinsealy Pet Store

Keep your Pet safe at Easter

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Happy Easter to you and your pets

With Easter fast approaching, we are urging pet owners to keep all chocolate safely out of the reach of our pet companions. Over the past year, many people have welcomed a dog or cat into their home and so we want to highlight how toxic chocolate, that is meant for human consumption, can be for our furry friends.

We also want to make owners aware of the signs of chocolate toxicity in a dog, after research revealed that vets are twice as likely to see pets with chocolate poisoning at Easter.

Veterinary and Welfare Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland, Niamh Curran-Kelly said: “Please make sure that children know their chocolate eggs are not for sharing with their furry friends. As toxic doses vary greatly, depending on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate ingested, if you suspect your dog has eaten any quantity of chocolate, please contact your vet for advice immediately. Prompt veterinary treatment can really improve a dog’s chances of making a full recovery”

We also recommend storing you vet’s out of hours contact number in your phone, in case of an emergency this weekend, such as your dog getting their paws on some chocolate.

What are the symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs?

Even if your dog is showing no symptoms, but you suspect he/she may have eaten chocolate, please contact your vet as they may be able to give emergency treatment to prevent poisoning.

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Tender abdomen
  • Excessive thirst
  • Excitability
  • Racing heart rate
  • Drooling
  • Tremors or in severe cases, seizures.

How can you keep your pet safe?

  • Never feed your pet chocolate intended for humans.
  • Keep your chocolate in a safe place – this means hidden out of sight and out of reach from your pet.
  • If your egg (or any chocolate) is missing and you suspect that your pet is the culprit, contact your vet straight away.
  • It is helpful if you can tell your vet how much chocolate, and the type of chocolate, you think your dog may have ingested. If you have any packaging, take it with you to the vets.
  • The sooner treatment is implemented, the greater the chance of recovery.
  • If you want to treat your pet this Easter, we recommend you stick to pet-friendly treats (in moderation) that are kinder to your canine and always have your local vet’s emergency number saved in your phone, just in case.

 

Our thanks to the good people at Dogs Trust for this excellent information.

Found a Hedgehog?

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Found a Hedgehog?

Have you found a hedgehog?

How do you know if it needs to be rescued?  Well if you answer yes to any of the list below then yes it does need help:

  • Road traffic casualty
  • Out during the day
  • Unresponsive but not in nest (hedgehogs only hibernate in nests)
  • Damaged limb/s
  • Limb protruding when curled up
  • Underweight at wintertime (under 600g by November)
  • Obvious wounds
  • Injured baby hedgehog (often making high pitched pipping sound)
  • Baby hedgehog if it’s on its own, and only after lengthy observation from a distance
  • Trapped or caught e.g. down a drain / in fencing – do not cut free and release
  • If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately

If you accidentally uncover a hibernating hedgehog, please don’t move it. Cover it over again with a thick layer of dry leaves and leave it to sleep. Put some water and some dry or wet cat/dog food (non-fish based food) nearby in case you have woken it up and it comes out of hibernation. Please do not give it bread or milk.

Initially, we ask you watch the hedgehog to see what it does for a short time. Please do not pick up a healthy-looking hedgehog unless you have concerns.

If you are still concerned about the hedgehog, pick it up (wearing gardening, or thick, gloves), put it in a high-sided cardboard box/cat carrier/hamster cage. Line the box with an old towel/fleece at the bottom for it to hide in and keep warm (or plenty of newspaper if you have nothing else). Put down more water and cat/dog food and put the hedgehog somewhere quiet, dark & warm. Please keep away from children and domestic animals.

For hedgehogs who need our help, please call, or text Hedgehog Rescue Dublin on 086 881 0492, as soon as you can. If you don’t get a respond right away,  please keep trying as they might be out on a hedgehog rescue, or on feeding duty and may miss your first attempt.

Our thanks to Hedgehog Rescue Dublin for this invaluable information.

HedgeHog Rescue Dublin

Hedgehog Rescue Dublin, based in150 150 logo Rush, are a non-profit organisation, dedicated to rescuing sickly, orphaned and/or injured hedgehogs in the Leinster area.

Their ultimate aim is to return hedgehogs back into the wild once we have nursed them back to full health. They do not rehome hedgehogs to the general public, but have a number of safe wild habitats where they release the hedgehogs to live out the rest of their lives.

You can contact Hedgehog Rescue Dublin on 086 881 0492, on Facebook or via their website

Story of the Month

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In the Back of the Net!

Just look at this little beauty! 

She was one of two stray kittens who were being fed by the generous people in Naul.  Unfortunately one of the kittens became entangled with netting from a goal post.  And despite best efforts she could not be caught.

So our assistance was asked for as it could not be caught.  Up stepped our volunteer Claire and sped to the rescue!

With a LOT of patience, Claire was able to trap the kitten and bring it home and remove all the netting.  The kitten is now being looked after in our foster care and we already have a loving home lined up for her. 

Don't worry the second kitten also found a home with the family who had been feeding the two siblings.

Pet Minding Service

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FUREVER FRIENDS PET MINDING
Dog Walking, Cat Transport, Pet Minding/Feeding in Pets own home. Any other requests welcome.
Recommended by Fingal S.P.C.A.
To find out more, please contact 086 6083424 or by e-mail- furefriend@gmail.com
karin-hiselius-aPJif68ghkg-unsplash

Tips to protect your pets this Halloween

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As Halloween approaches, the ISPCA is reminding the public to be aware of the dangers Halloween poses to the wellbeing of all animals and to take extra measures to safeguard the safety of not only domestic pets but farm animals and wildlife too.

Halloween can be a scary time for our furry friends so it is important that they are kept securely indoors if they are afraid by the noise of fireworks. It’s important your pet is microchipped and is also wearing a collar with an identification tag, so if they do escape, you can be easily reunited.

We have put together some safety tips and advice to help pet owners in the run up to Halloween:

Fireworks
Some pets can be terrified by the sound of fireworks so ensure they are kept safe in a hazardssecure area where they cannot dart out an open door from the noise.  It’s a good idea to walk your dog early morning and before dark, keeping them away from any fireworks in the area.  Pet owners can help train their dogs and cats to become accustomed to the sound of fireworks by playing similar sounds.  Try keeping the lights low, and playing a radio or television in the background to help drown out some of the noise outside. As difficult as it may be, try not to react to your pet showing signs of fear as it may be the best way you can help them. Licking objects such as kong toys filled with treats may help ease your pet’s stress. It is important that they have a safe, secure place to hide indoors if they are scared. If you are concerned that your pet is unmanageably terrified of the noise of fireworks, you should consult your vet to discuss ways for managing your pet’s stress.

Halloween Costumes
Some pets may find wearing Halloween costumes stressful. Consider a festive themed bandanas instead which will be less restrictive. If you do choose to put your pet in a costume, make sure it does not limit the animal’s movement, vision, ability to breathe or behave normally.

Sweets and Wrappers
Chocolate and raisins are highly toxic to pets, as are any sweets containing the sugar substitute xylitol and should always be kept out of reach from curious paws and noses.

Indoor Hazards
Keep dogs and cats away from wires, decorations and candles.  Ingesting foil or plastic wrappers can also lead to digestive problems and may require surgery. If your pet does ingest something toxic, contact your vet immediately.

Microchipping – it’s the law!
The ISPCA strongly recommend that all dog owners have their pet’s microchipped. It is a legal requirement for all dogs and puppies once they are 12 weeks old and failure to do so, is an offence under the Animal Health & Welfare Act (AHWA) 2013. Dog owners need to be in possession of a microchipping certificate also so it is important that your contact details are kept up-to-date on the microchipping database. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to inform the database operator of any change so once your dog has been microchipped, check it to ensure your details are correct. If your pet becomes lost, having them microchipped is the best way to ensure they will be reunited with you. Lost pets puts extra pressure on animal rescue centres, dog pounds and veterinary practices but it also causes more upset for pets and pet owners so don’t delay and get your dog microchipped today – it’s the law!  While microchipping is recommended for cats, there are no current plans to make cat microchipping compulsory.

Outdoor Pets
Horses, ponies and donkeys should be securely stabled to prevent them from escaping or hurting themselves if they live in areas with a considerable amount of Halloween-related noise. Small mammals or birds should be kept indoors such as a garage or a shed, covering over hutches or cages with blankets to act as sound-proofing.

Look out for wildlife
Hedgehogs go into hibernation this time of year, and will sleep in wood piles or heavy scrub and leaves. It is important you check under all wood piles before lighting any bonfires to ensure there is no wildlife hibernating. Some outdoor plastic decorations such a fake spider webs or string lights can snare wild animals, so be careful if hanging them and ensure they are removed after the festivities.

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Black Cats
For centuries black cats have been steeped in superstition and depending on where you live, it was either good luck or bad luck to have a black cat walk either toward you or away from you. As Halloween traditions go, black cats and witches go hand-in-paw on a broom. In some countries the idea of witches transforming themselves into black cats was widely believed back in the time of Salem. However, black cats have since regained their status and in many places today, it's considered good luck for a black cat to cross your path. We are appealing to members of the public to consider adopting one of our super friendly black cats or kittens from the ISPCA after the commotion of Halloween. More information can be found here.

Report Animal Cruelty
Unfortunately stray animals can fall victim to abuse or cruel Halloween pranks. If you witness any animal cruelty, please contact your local Garda station immediately and report it to the ISPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515 515 or report in confidence online here.

Our thanks to the ISPCA for this valuable information