Shine A Light - Who speaks for our animals when they can’t speak for themselves?

That’s the question at the heart of this week’s Shine a Light, as the programme turns its focus to animal welfare in County Wexford and the people working every day to protect animals that are lost, neglected, injured or in distress.

Siobhan Murphy speaks with Barbara Bent of the WSPCA, who says the organisation deals with everything from dogs and cats to horses, wildlife and cruelty cases — and is currently seeing huge pressure from unwanted and neglected animals. Barbara also urges people not to ignore concerns, saying the public plays a vital role in reporting animals they believe may be suffering.

Wexford County Council Dog Warden Cabrini Desmond explains the realities of dealing with stray, abandoned and roaming dogs across the county, the importance of microchipping and responsible ownership and why owners must know where their dogs are at all times.

The programme also visits Seal Rescue Ireland in Courtown, where Senior Animal Care Manager Brooke explains what happens from the moment a call comes into its 24-hour rescue line through to rehabilitation and where possible release back into the wild.

And the focus turns to horses and ponies too with Sharon from the Equine Welfare Centre, looking at the challenges involved in caring for some of our largest and most vulnerable animals.

Shine a Light – Who Speaks for Our Animals? asks all of us to look a little closer, take responsibility and speak up when an animal cannot speak for itself

The full programme is available now on the podcast section of our website

This program is funded by the news reporting scheme