Students come to animals' rescue
A dog walking event on the grounds of ATU Galway’s Dublin Road campus will look to raise vital funds for two animal rescue charities in the county.
The inaugural ATU Canines on Campus Event takes place this Monday, August 26, from 2-4pm, running across their campuses in Galway City, Sligo and Letterkenny. It will raise funds for four groups, two of which are based in Galway: Madra and the Galway Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA).
In Ireland, animal shelters face increasing demand for their services. The ISPCA reported that 1,474 animals were seized or surrendered and taken into their care in 2023.
Dogs Trust Ireland has already received 412 surrender requests this year, following 3,968 requests in 2023. In response, ATU staff and students have launched this pilot project to support the four animal rescues.
One of the beneficiaries is Galway SPCA. They have been actively rehoming and improving animal welfare across the county for over 20 years. Their main base is between Killimor and Portumna, where they care for dogs, while their cattery is located in Briarhill Business Park.
"Galway SPCA's aim is to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome as many animals as we possibly can. We fix the broken, we give strength to the weak, hope for the defeated, and love the unloved through our passion and dedication," stressed Emma O'Brien, Kennel Manager of Galway SPCA.
“It is important to us that by working with other groups, communities, and fellow animal lovers we can show that rescue animals make the most loyal and loving of family pets if given a chance."
MADRA, an acronym for Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption, is based in Connemara. It has been rehoming abandoned and neglected dogs across the west coast of Ireland since 2005. MADRA takes in between 500 and 600 dogs every year.
“We are delighted to be chosen as one of ATU's charities for their Canines on Campus event. This wonderful initiative highlights the incredible bond between humans and animals," stressed Dawn Divilly, Director of Operations at MADRA.
“Rescues like us are under constant pressure to help the thousands of unwanted dogs in Ireland and we can only do this with the support of our communities. We look forward to collaborating with ATU to create a memorable and impactful event for the community,” she added.
ATU Canines on Campus invites the public to donate and join the dog walk. Places are limited so participants must register in advance by visiting atu.ie/caninesoncampus.
“By coming together for this event, we can support these organisations in their mission to improve animal welfare in the west and northwest of Ireland.
I invite everyone to join us in celebrating our furry friends and contributing to a cause that truly makes a difference," stated Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU.