A LIMERICK animal charity has issued an urgent appeal for funds as its founder told this newspaper that, in over 40 years, she had never seen things so bad.
Limerick Animal Welfare (LAW) posted the appeal on its social media channels, urging people to donate and help support the many animals in its care.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, Marion Fitzgibbon, LAW founder, said that in over 40 years being involved with the charity, she had “never seen the likes of it”.
The charity’s vet bills have hit over €100,000 so far this year, Marion explained, and making ends meet is becoming increasingly difficult.
“Everything is gone so expensive,” Marion said.
LAW has taken in over 100 puppies since Christmas, with a “huge increase” in abandoned dogs coming through its doors.
LAW is now aiming to reach a fundraising target of €30,000 ahead of ‘kitten season’, which will see large number of stray kittens brought to the animal charity for veterinary care and rehoming.
The charity relies mainly on donations, as well as its stores around Limerick City, which are all staffed by volunteers.
The charity gets a yearly grant from the Department of Agriculture, which was €111,600 in 2024.
Marion said that while people are still very generous, donations have never fully bounced back to what they were at before the start of the Covid pandemic.
Donations can be made to LAW online via PayPal or the Limerick Animal Welfare website, over the phone on 063 911 10, or by post to the LAW Sanctuary, Moorstown, Kilfinane.
