NWSPCA keen to mark its territory
ANIMAL CHARITY FUNDRAISING ROW
THE North Wexford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has moved to mark its territory after two rival organisations from outside the county began to employ professional fundraisers to collect money from people in North Wexford.
'It has come to our attention that people are of the understanding that donations to two animal groups, one from North Wicklow and the other from County Tipperary are helping the North Wexford SPCA,' said a spokesperson for the NWSPCA. ' This is completely untrue. Neither of these two groups have any animal welfare inspectors working in North Wexford - the NWSPCA is the only one.'
'It is also our understanding that these organisations use contract professional fundraisers,' he added. 'Professional fundraising is a multi-million euro industry which employs street collectors who are derogatorily known as "chuggers" or charity muggers, and the charity pays the fundraising company a commission on the money that they collect.'
The actions of these groups have led to Facebook groups being established calling on people to boycott the chuggers and instead support their local animal welfare charity.
'It is up to people themselves to decide where they want to donate their money,' said the NWSPCA spokesperson. 'However they should be sure it is all going to charity and not to a private company as commission. If approached by a chugger, people should ask to see their collection permit and ask what percentage of the donation is actually going to the charity.'
'If you are in doubt about the legality of a public collection please forward your concerns to the Garda Síochána,' he added.
The North Wexford SPCA pointed out that it only uses volunteer collectors; local people who want to support animal welfare in North Wexford. 'We never use professional collectors which means one hundred percent of all money collected goes directly to fund our kennels and sanctuary in Gorey,' he said.
The animal welfare organisation said that charity begins at home and is appealed for people's support towards the difficult job they do. The Society thanked all its loyal supporters who continue to support its work. 'It's these people who are keeping us afloat and enabling us to help the abused, distressed, abandoned animals of North Wexford,' he said.
- FINTAN LAMBE
