People from across Cavan and Monaghan are being asked to consider fostering a pet to help combat animal cruelty.
The request comes from the ISPCA which says has received seven calls in Co Monaghan and 31 calls in Co Cavan between January and May of this year.
The organisation says it expects to lodge a total of up to 90 calls in Cavan by the end of the year while 20 is anticipated in Monaghan.
The ISPCA has indicated a sharp increase in animal cruelty and in the abandonment of pets since the fallout of the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Dr Cyril Sullivan, CEO of the ISPCA says the situation is now at 'crisis point' and foster homes or donations are needed across the region
"It's a post-pandemic issue. We've all benefitted post-pandemic from going back to work, but our companion animals haven't been so lucky. So the ISPCA have no alternative but to launch a national appeal. People in Cavan and Monaghan are lodging calls in our call centre, there's significant numbers there. We could have up to 80 in Cavan and maybe 30 or 40 in Monaghan in any one year".
