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Veterinary Service
Food Safety
Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, Sligo County Council continues to implement all relevant food safety legislation under the Service Contract between Sligo County Council and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. This includes the supervision of two abattoirs and two small meat manufacturing plants. The funding is based on a Service Contract negotiated nationally between FSAI and CCMA. There were difficult negotiations regarding funding between the FSAI and CCMA but an agreement was finally reached in late 2020, to roll over the contract for another year. The long-term future of the service is still under discussion.
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Animal Welfare
The Council continues to implement the Control of Horses Act and has seen a major reduction in abandoned horses. The contract for seizure of horses continues to operate from a National framework.
The Dog Warden service operated under the COVID-19 restrictions. There was a noticeable fall in the number of dogs taken in and there were no dogs euthanized in 2020 in the shelter. Re-homing from the shelter is continuing with a number of charities but the uncertainty surrounding Brexit may affect this as many of the dogs go to the UK. Inspections of Dog Breeding establishments also took place in 2020, with 1 establishment renewing its licence but a second premises opted not to renew. The new National Dog Licence system was introduced by An Post and LGMA in 2018 and An Post now also send out first reminders. The system also has an online portal for dog licences which has been popular since its introduction in Summer 2018.
