‘Very much appreciated’: Kildare animal charity's grant funding to increase next year

An animal charity based in County Kildare, and which also serves West-Wicklow, has had its grant funding for next year increased.

A spokesperson for the Kildare and West-Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (KWWSPCA) told the Leinster Leader today (December 15) that the KWWSPCA was informed about the increase by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and The Marine, Martin Heydon, TD.

The spokesperson specified that its Animal Welfare Grant Funding for 2026 would be €80,00, compared to €62,025 for 2025.

Welcoming the news, the spokesperson said: "With costs rising rapidly, this increase in funding is very much appreciated."

They also revealed that in 2025 so far, the KWWSPCA has helped "more than 1,000 cats, dogs and other small domestic pets find a better life". 

"Almost 350 cats and kittens have been rescued and rehomed and just under 250 dogs," they explained. "Unless they were too young or there were good veterinary reasons for not doing so, all these cats and dogs would have been neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for worms and fleas before going to their forever homes." 

In addition, they said: "As well as the domestic cats that were rehomed, almost 450 feral cats have also been trapped, neutered and then either returned to where they were trapped or rehomed as domestic pets or as outside cats in farms and similar locations."

READ NEXT: Well-known Kildare hotel proposes construction of 53 extra bedrooms

CHRISTMAS DISCLAIMER

The spokesperson also issued the following disclaimer to the public: "During the Christmas period, the KWWSPCA does not rehome its rescue animals as it is not a good time for a new pet to settle into a new home. 

"Any rescue dogs and cats that are still living at the KWWSPCA animal shelter will go into foster homes for Christmas and the New Year; this gives the cat or dog a nice treat away from the restrictions of a shelter environment and also allows our hard worked volunteers to have a break."

They also revealed: "Sláinte the collie and Pedro the cat will both be available for rehoming in the New Year."

Sláinte the collie and Pedro the cat. Photographs provided by the KWWSPCA

Moreover, the spokesperson said that while expressed gratitude "a great deal" of fundraising is needed to enable the charity to to continue with its work, they also said that the KWWSPCA is "so very grateful" to all those who support the KWWSPCA in so many ways. 

"Some give donations of money, pet food and other pet products, some donate items for selling in the KWWSPCA charity shop, Noah’s Ark, in Newbridge, and others attend our fundraising events throughout the year or organise fund raising events themselves," they said. "But the biggest thank you must go to the KWWSPCA volunteers who give their time and energy to the work of the Society. 

2026 MISSION

And as for the KWWSPCA's main goal for 2026, the spokesperson told the Leader that the charity will be fundraising for a new animal shelter: "The KWWSPCA has been very fortunate for the last 11 years to have been able to rent a cottage, a large barn and three fields from a local landowner which has been used very successfully as its animal shelter. 

"However, for long term security, it was decided that the KWWSPCA needed to own its own premises. 

"With this in mind, in 2023 it purchased a 15-acre green field site not far from Kildare town and in November of this year, the KWWSPCA was finally granted planning permission from Kildare County Council to build a new animal shelter for its rescue animals."

They concluded: "This will be a major project and will need considerable funding, but the KWWSPCA is hopeful that building will be able to start in the coming year."

BRIEF BACKGROUND

According to the official KWWSPCA website, the organisation was initially founded in 1940 as the Kildare SPCA, with West-Wicklow included at a later date, in order to help prevent and deal with cases of animal cruelty.

It is run solely by volunteers and is a registered charity.

The KWWSPCA's current animal shelter is located in Oldtown, Athgarvan.

READ NEXT: Kildare County Council announces free Christmas parking for Naas 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.