Amber Springs deny allegations animals are being mistreated

A popular four star hotel in north Wexford has hit back at allegations that their pet farm is not treating the animals properly.

The National Animal Rights Association (NARA) alleged that they’d visited the Amber Springs Hotel’s pet farm after several complaints were made to their organisation.

NARA’s statement reads: “We found goats with overgrown hooves, and one with a mange-like skin condition, a pony in a worryingly small enclosure, a miserable solitary macaw, as well as sheep, a rabbit and a duck. All in close proximity to a playground and loud music.”

Gorey Gardaí have confirmed that reports were made to them regarding the Amber Springs Hotel’s pet farm and that they contacted the NWSPCA. The NWSPCA then passed the case on to another organisation who it is understood carried out an investigation.

The Amber Springs Hotel released a statement on their social media denying that they’d ever been asked to remove any animals from their pet farm or that there had been any concern for the welfare of their animals.

The Amber Springs Hotel statement reads: “Jack the goat, is 15 years of age, a happy goat who has enjoyed an active life, enriched by visits from the Amber Springs guests. He suffers from arthritis and is now living life out on the hotel farm with Spirit the pony.

“We have a number of key staff members who monitor the Amber Park and the Amber Pet Farm – the animals within the farm are a collection of pocket pets rabbits, (Matilda & Coco), ducks (Butch & Donald) guinea pigs, some domestic animals, 2 sheep, (Nibble & Dibble) and chickens and a macaw called Luna. We welcome any official governing body to visit and review our standards of animal care, animal policy and our pet farm.

The statement goes onto say that they will not permit “any harrassment of our staff or guests or any onsite trespasssing”.

Complaints to both the ISPCA and the Department of Agriculture “create unnecessary and unwarranted concern, both bodies have inspected our pet farm and animals within the last 3 months (ISPCA twice) as being perfectly cared for within all animal welfare guidelines.”

Founder of the National Animal Rights Association, Laura Broxson told the Gorey Guardian that the hotel has now blocked NARA on all social media channels.

“We can’t tag them anymore on Facebook or Instagram and they aren’t engaging with us at all to be honest. We emailed them on March 21 and they didn’t reply,” said Laura.

NARA was first contacted at the beginning of March by families that had visited the hotel on holidays. “The images that we were sent caused me to go down and have a look,” said Laura.

After their visit, NARA says they reported the pet farm to the Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare Unit, NPWS, ISPCA and Enniscorthy Garda Station. The statement goes on to say that after these organisations inspected the pet farm they rehomed the goat with the skin condition, “but sadly all the other animals remain there”.

During a call with the hotel on March 19, Laura was informed that the ISPCA and the Department of Agriculture had visited the hotel with a vet and the hotel rehomed the goat.

“I asked what about the rest of the animals but they said there was nothing wrong with the rest of the animals,” said Laura.

“They have a solitary macaw which are social and intelligent animals but she’s in a cage by herself, so it’s not ideal,” said Laura.