CAN YOU CALL THIS ‘ANIMAL HEAVEN’?
As Department of Agriculture identif ies ‘issues’, a professor of equine medicine raises questions about conditions in which horses are kept
WELL-KNOWN animal charity Animal Heaven Animal Rescue (AHAR) has been inspected by the Department of Agriculture after complaints from the public. Department officials visited the Kerry rescue centre after pictures emerged online of conditions inside the premises.
And this weekend the department confirmed to the Irish Mail on Sunday that they had identified ‘issues’ inside AHAR, where hundreds of animals are housed.
‘Certain matters have been identified requiring corrective action on behalf of the person in charge,’ the Department said. The statement noted, however, that ‘the range and scope’ of allegations concerning the animal welfare charity ‘circulating on social media are not consistent with the department’s findings’.
The charity is also facing an investigation by the Charities Regulator after a complaint was made by a former benefactor.
Furthermore, a local veterinary nurse has criticised the treatment of the animals that she saw. Femke Bot, who was Irish Veterinary Nurse of the Year in 2014, said that action needs to be taken at the rescue. ‘Little lives and little souls are being destroyed,’ she said.
Renowned expert Derek Knottenbelt, Professor of Equine Medicine at the University of Liverpool, examined the pictures taken at AHAR and said he would have ‘concerns’ for the welfare of the horses.
‘There are quite a few horses on a deep litter bed and some of them appear to have badly contaminated legs and one has open sarcoid (a type of equine skin tumour),’ he said. ‘This is not in my opinion an appropriate care for horses on a permanent basis unless the number of horses and the bedding can be managed.’
AHAR is run by Suzanne Gibbons and in 2013 she was given hundreds of thousands of euro by a benefactor to fund the purchase of a new facility.
Just a year later, the benefactor withdrew her support following a visit. Last week an official complaint was made to the Charities Regulator about the running of AHAR and the complainant has asked for an investigation into animal welfare and practices at the centre.
The ISPCA has also received complaints about the facility.
AHAR hit back at the claims, saying that it has passed inspections
financial by the Department of Agriculture. In response to questions, Ms Gibbons, who confirmed that the pictures were taken at the Kerry centre, said she is satisfied that any complaint will not be upheld. She added that she has passed all department inspections. ‘I had vets in and they went through everything,’ she said.
The MoS has also learned that no financial records have been made available to the public.
Ms Gibbons said she has no problem with her accounts being published. ‘I have no bother with the accounts going online. There’s a copy of my audited accounts on my desk,’ she said. ‘Anyone can ask for them.’
In 2014, AHAR received €16,000 from the Department of Agriculture.
The charity did not receive a grant in 2015.