Council U-turn as it cancels dog pound contract
Kennels sent pet’s remains back to owner trussed in bin bag
DUBLIN City Council has been forced into an 11th-hour U-turn after it offered a valuable contract to run its dog pound to a kennel owner that had previously come to the attention of the local authority.
On Friday, the council announced it was awarding an interim contract to Paddy Cullen, formerly of P & E Boarding Kennels in Kimmage.
Mr Cullen, who had not tendered for the contract initially, previously hit the headlines after a dead dog was returned to its owner trussed in bin liners after a three-day stay at his kennels.
However, the awarding of the contract was revoked yesterday after the Irish Mail on Sunday contacted the council.
Mr Cullen’s business now trades as a ‘Hotel for Pets’.
A check would have revealed that in 2019 the council found Mr Cullen’s kennels breached animal welfare law and/or posed a threat to public or animal health after identifying several issues of concern.
On May 13, 2019, Dublin City Council sent an Improvement Order to Patrick Cullen, P & E Breeding Kennels, under the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010.
The order stated: ‘There has been a contravention of the Act or a condition attaching to the registration of the dog breeding establishment in the register maintained by the local authority at the establishment identified hereunder and/or … the establishment hereunder is being maintained in a manner that poses or is likely to pose a threat to public health or animal welfare.’
The council said the Improvement Order was issued following an inspection of the premises on May 1, 2019. On foot of the inspection it ordered the premises to comply with the following:
‘1. A register of medicines administered to be kept.
2. A register of veterinary care.
3. A registered pest controller be hired.
4. A separate food and chemical store.
5. A barrier disinfectant be used.
6. All kennels must bear a tag with a description of the dog (breed, colour, sex)
7. A register of all dogs entering the boarding kennels, giving each dog a number, with the breed, sex, colour and microchip number.
8. Second kennel block needs better ventilation.’
The council added: ‘I hereby require you, as proprietor or person in charge, to undertake a programme of remedial action at the above named premises, in order to cease the contraventions, or avoid or prevent the threat concerned, and to bring the premises into conformity with all required legislation. The programme of remedial action, which is required to be undertaken with immediate effect, is required to be completed within a period of 10 days from the date of this Notice.’
It is understood improvements were made. The council took no further action after the Improvement Notice was issued.
Dublin City Council deputy chief executive Brendan Kenny yesterday accepted a ‘basic background check should have been in order’.
Mr Kenny told the MoS: ‘I’m surprised this was missed but if that is the case... then our background checks were insufficient and I’ll be asking questions about that.’
The interim contract to Mr Kelly was made following a tendering process after which no contracts were offered to any of the applicants. Mr Cullen was then approached by the council.
Brendan Kenny told the MoS: ‘We will be rescinding that service from Mr Cullen. We accept that we may have to look at reframing the terms of the tender and offering it out again.’
Mr Kenny admitted the council now find itself ‘in a mess’ over the situation. He added: ‘We are talking to other people and organisations as of today to see if they can actually provide any services.
The MoS previously showed images of a husky which was returned to its owner, Kirsten Hinche, trussed and taped in bin bags after she died at P&E Boarding Kennels. Mr Cullen insisted that the dog had died from natural causes but apologised to the owner for a lack of sensitivity.
Until last week, Dublin City Council paid the owners of Ashton Dog Pound €28,400 a month for the past 20 years to operate the pound. Ashton’s contract was not renewed following concerns about the treatment of dogs at the facility.
Awarding of contract was revoked
‘We will be rescinding service from Mr Cullen’