DSPCA

The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was established in 1840,{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/creature-comfort-1.469337|title=Creature comfort|newspaper=The Irish Times| date = 16 July 2005 | accessdate = 7 August 2020 }} and is the oldest and largest animal welfare charity in Ireland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2020/0701/1150725-things-you-should-consider-before-getting-a-dog/|title=Things you should consider before getting a dog|publisher = RTÉ | website=rte.ie | date=1 July 2020 | accessdate = 7 August 2020 }}

Initially the organisation was known as the "Dublin Auxiliary of the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals", and it was founded the year the RSPCA received Royal Patronage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dspca.ie/aboutus/history-of-the-dspca/|title=History of the DSPCA | website = dspca.ie | accessdate = 7 August 2020}} The charity has had a number of names, and was known at different times as the "Dublin Home for Starving and Forsaken Cats" or the "Cats and Dogs Home".

Between 1840 and 1990, the DSPCA was based at Grand Canal Quay in Dublin city centre. In 1990, it moved to Stocking Lane in the Dublin suburb of Rathfarnham. The land had been bequeathed to the charity in 1936 as a place to graze retired working horses.{{cite news|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1936/0921/Pg009.html#Ar00901 | newspaper = The Irish Times| title = Irish Times Article Archive | date = 21 September 1936 |url-access = subscription }} In 2003, the charity moved to a new premises on Mount Venus Road in Rathfarnham. In 2010, the DSPCA constructed a new pet boarding centre, and in 2011 a new veterinary clinic was opened.

The DSPCA continues to care for sick, injured and cruelly treated animals in the city and county of Dublin. It describes itself as the "only animal welfare charity in the city that cares for all animals, domestic and wild".

The DSPCA (sometimes known as the Dublin SPCA) is involved in investigating suspected cruelty, providing animal ambulance services, caring for animals at its shelter in Rathfarnham, finding new homes for animals, providing information on animal care, providing veterinary care, giving career guidance for those interested in working with animals, and working on legislative changes to improve protection for animals.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA, Irish charity number 1047) is operated and funded separately from the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA, Irish charity number 5619).{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/rural-life/animal-welfare-charities-get-almost-2m-in-funding-35308440.html|title=Animal welfare charities get almost €2m in funding| publisher = Independent News & Media | website=Irish Independent |date=20 December 2016 | accessdate = 7 August 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.charitiesregulator.ie/en/information-for-the-public/search-the-register-of-charities/charity-detail?srchstr=1047®id=20001735 |title=Charity Detail - Charity number 1047 (DSPCA) |publisher=Charities Regulator |website = charitiesregulator.ie | accessdate = 7 August 2020 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.charitiesregulator.ie/en/information-for-the-public/search-the-register-of-charities/charity-detail?srchstr=5619®id=20008734 | publisher = Charities Regulator | title = Charity Detail - Charity number 5619 (ISPCA) | accessdate = 7 August 2020 }}

The Dublin SPCA shelter is on Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham. Opened in 2003, the facility offers shelter and care to a wide variety of pets and domesticated animals. The centre is also used to house a number of injured and young wildlife awaiting release including swans, foxes, badgers and small birds.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

The Dublin SPCA operates four mobile clinics which offer subsidised veterinary treatment for pets whose owners are in receipt of welfare benefit.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

The charity also operates four ambulances which cover the Dublin area, responding to emergency calls from the public. Ambulance crews collect sick and injured animals, deal with road traffic accidents, trapped or sick animals, and animals that need to be removed from a situation of cruelty.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

DSPCA's inspectors investigate complaints of cruelty and neglect, provide guidance to animal owners where necessary, and initiates prosecution for offences.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.dspca.ie/ Official website]

{{Animal welfare}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dublin Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals}}

Category:Animal charities

Category:Animal welfare organisations based in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Charities based in Ireland

Category:Organisations based in Dublin (city)