Update on Department & Other Government Funding

Over the last five years the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food provided The Irish Blue Cross with ex-gratia grant aid of:

The charity relies on significant government grant aid to help provide and expand its small-animal services which have grown enormously in line with the demands of the current recession. In 2009, our overall small-animal services caseload was 17,791. This included mobile clinic treatments and vaccinations of 15,271 (25% increase on the previous year). It also included 1,205 referrals to private veterinary practices for surgeries and life-saving procedures. A further 1,310 procedures were carried out at the charity’s Inchicore clinic in its start-up year. In addition, in 2009, our advice office handled approximately 8,000 telephone advice calls from concerned pet owners.

During the first six months of 2010, the total throughput of small-animal cases for Blue Cross care was 9,455. The mobile clinics cared for 7,548 and the small-animal clinic at Inhcicore took on 1,907 surgeries and procedures. In addition, 256 small animals were referred to external private veterinary practices for low cost surgery.

Funds received from The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government over the last five years were:

Small but significant, these government funds are crucial to the continuation of The Irish Blue Cross low cost neutering scheme for genuinely needy pet owners. The scheme now operates in-house at the new Inchicore small-animal clinic, with good cost savings achieved. The funds are spread over a greater volume of animals requiring assistance.

Dublin City Council, Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council, Dublin South County Council and Figal County Council provide small scale significant funding totalling €11,040 in 2009.