AMNESTY PERIOD NEEDED TO TACKLE PORBLEM OF ROAMING HORSES

Date Published: 26-Jun-2012

A two month amnesty period is needed in Galway to microchip all horses and take unwanted strays out of the system through an organised cull.

That’s according to Cllr Gerry Finnerty who called on the Department of Agriculture to take the lead in tackling the growing animal welfare problem in both the city and county.

Two department officials addressed county council members last evening [Jun 25] on the relevant powers available under the Control of Horses Act 1996 and the process of equine identification.

These include Section 47 of the Act which allows for exclusion areas to be applied and Section 37 which allows authorised persons to seize of detain stray horses.

Cllr Jim Cuddy said the legislation is not sufficient to tackle the Galway problem as once a registered horse is sold on, there is no traceability of subsequent owners.

Cllr Dermot Connolly supported the call for an amnesty period for cull or slaughter as did Cllr Michael Connolly who stressed that hungry animals see no fences and are causing huge safety concerns.

Speaking to Galway Bay fm news, Cllr Gerry Finnerty says the many strays and starving horses found across the county are being considered as waste and must be taken out of the system or chipped by their rightful owners