Disgust at cruel drowning of dog in Ballina

Disgust at cruel drowning of dog in Ballina


Reward offered for information

Ciara Galvin

A reward in excess of €3,000 is being offered for information leading to the prosecution of the perpetrator of the brutal drowning of a dog in Ballina last week.
Donors to the reward fund include Animal Rights Action Network, which has put forward €1,500, and singer Tommy Fleming, who donated €500.   
North West SPCA Ballina was notified of the grim discovery at The Quay in Ballina on St Patrick’s Day morning. The dog, a labrador/collie mix, was pulled from the river by local man John Redmond, assisted by Noel Rabbitte. They discovered that the dog was tied to a concrete block. North West SPCA has since named the animal ‘Sirius’.
Gardaí and a vet were called to the scene. The vet confirmed that the dog was a young unneutered male with no microchip. In a statement on its website, North West SPCA said, ‘The cruelty involved in this is unspeakable. In this day and age it is unthinkable that anyone could carry out this cold blooded act’.
Ballina TD Deputy Michelle Mulherin condemned the act last week, describing it as ‘cowardice’ and said these types of acts were ‘not acceptable’ and urged people to ‘stand against it’. The Deputy went on to thank North West SPCA and the other voluntary animal welfare organisations in the area.
Local Independent councillor Gerry Ginty, who is heavily involved with North Mayo Horse Sanctuary, said people around Ballina were ‘disgusted’ with the discovery.
Speaking about the incident, Cllr Ginty said it was a deliberate act as the perpetrator tied the dog to the block with particularly strong bailing twine.
“I saw the dog, and however bad it looks in picture, it’s worse in real life. I don’t want Ballina to be portrayed as an animal cruelty hotspot, Ballina is probably one of the better towns for animal protection,” said Cllr Ginty.
Cllr Ginty said though there are plans to introduce compulsory microchipping for pets, the measure would only have an impact if enforced.
The Independent councillor said the only good that could come out of the coverage of the horrendous act is that the perpetrator would now be aware that people know what they did. “Somebody knows who did it,” he added.