Emergency motion calling for alternative dog pound providers

By Aideen O’Flaherty

AN EMERGENCY motion calling for “alternative providers” for the interim provision of dog pound services for South Dublin County was passed at Monday’s monthly council meeting.

As previously reported in The Echo, the local authority’s contract with its previous provider, Ashton Dog Pound, expired last year, however the council temporarily extended the contract with Ashton while they were in the process of finding a new tender for the service.

Last February, Ashton Dog Pound was being investigated by gardai in relation to an alleged animal welfare incident.

The tender process for the provision of a dog pound facility and related services for the South Dublin County Council administrative area ended last February.

The contract for dog pound services was initially awarded to Offaly-based Midland Animal Care Ltd, who then withdrew their application in May.

Following on from this, the council then was in the process of finalising a contract with a new service provider, called the Dublin Animal Welfare Pound Partnership, however these plans fell through in recent weeks.

The Echo understands that, following a compliance check and evaluation process, the local authority decided not to award the contract to any of the applicants.

Ashton Dog Pound was expected to continue to hold the interim contract for dog pound services until a new tender was found.

However, councillors passed an emergency motion on Monday, asking the council’s chief executive to “urgently explore alternative providers for the interim provision of dog pound services following the end of the tendering process”.

It was also suggested in the motion that assistance should be sought “from other organisations and from independent dog shelters in other areas” going forward.