TWO LEADING ANIMAL welfare charities are merging to create a new national animal welfare organisation and improve delivery of services, as the country sees record breaking levels of animal welfare issues.

DSPCA and ISPCA have signed an agreement to form a single, integrated national animal welfare organisation, the National SPCA, which will be up and running by October 1 2025.

According to the charities, Ireland is currently experiencing an animal welfare crisis, with record numbers of animals requiring rescue, treatment and rehoming.

The Journal previously reported that since Covid-19 animal welfare organisations have been under significant strain, with some charities only having the resources to take the most urgent neglect cases.

Chief Inspector for the ISPCA, Conor Dowling, told The Journal there has been a rise in animal neglect due to a “lasting fallout from Covid and the lockdowns” when dog ownership and breeding increased. 

ISPCA and DSPCA are Ireland’s largest animal welfare organisations in the country, they are coming together to benefit from “combined resources, structure, expertise, facilities and geographical reach”.

A kitten rescued by the DSPCA.

According to a statement released today, the National SPCA plans to deliver a greater impact on animal welfare by having one strong voice for animal welfare and one national animal welfare inspectorate.

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The merger will also expand national animal welfare education programmes and operate national animal shelters.

Paul Connell, Chair of the DSPCA, will be Chair of the new organisation and Pat Watt, CEO of DSPCA, will become CEO of the National SPCA when operational. The Board of the new organisation will include representatives of both the DSPCA and the ISPCA.

Speaking at the announcement, DSPCA CEO, Pat Watt said; “This is a transformational and exciting development for animal welfare in Ireland, bringing together the two largest animal welfare charities who share a mutual commitment, ambition and vision to form one integrated national animal welfare organisation.”

Paul Connell, Chair of the DSPCA said: “The new charity represents a positive pooling of resources, expertise, history and DNA to create a stronger national entity that will deliver a seamless national approach to benefit animal welfare policies, legislation, enforcement and on the ground animal welfare initiatives.”