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29 JUNE 2011
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Abandoned pony sunny on her way to a full recovery A pony found abandoned with a chunk of its neck missing is on her way to a full recovery. ISPCA Inspector Kevin McGinley made the grim discovery near Pettigo earlier this month. He found the two-year-old bay trotter with a massive injury to its neck involving considerable muscle and tissue loss. McGinley called a vet and began local inquiries. He found there was no link between the animal and the owner of the land where it was found. It appears that it was abandoned, most likely due to its injury.
Despite the extent of the wound, the vet was confident it could be treated and arrangements were made to take the pony to the National Animal Centre in Longford. Further assessment showed there was no major damage to arteries, tendons, ligaments or vertebrae. The horse has now been named Sunny by staff due to his sunny disposition. Equine supervisor Cathy Griffin said: “He is so kind and gentle with everyone he meets and very happy in himself considering what he suffered.
“The General Manger & staff at the hospital are doing their very best in what is an intolerable situation. “Unless we the people of Donegal send out a very clear and loud message to Government that we not accept this we will find ourselves among “the small hospitals” that the Minister for Health talks about closing. “We will in effect in the coming years be no more than a community hospital. If you keep “chipping” away at the budget & services then in a short time, maybe only a couple of years then you aren’t what you were, in this case, a general hospital.” She said Letterkenny Hospital has in been among the top performing hospital in recent times, they have over the years been proactive in the services they provide and this has never been reflected in the budget they receive. The campaigner went on:”While DACC acknowledge in the present economic climate
that some cutbacks and a review of how we do things is necessary, the experience has always been that services outside of the big hospitals in the cities, like LGH are the ones that get identified for reform & cutbacks. “We cannot let LGH and Donegal patients be the ones to suffer the impact again.” Among the concerns raised on an ongoing basis by DACC and with Donegal Oireachtas Members are: • budget inequalities for LGH, the future of the hospital including the impact on services, staffing problems, the delay • in the recruitment of a full times Urologist that should have been advertised last August, • the new A& E unit not just the building but where will the money & staff come from to run it, • questions regarding patient pathways etc for the new Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin,
“His wound must be thoroughly washed and cleaned daily and he stands quietly for all his treatment despite the pain he must be feeling. Sunny is a very special little pony.” Efforts are continuing to trace the person responsible for abandoning Sunny, who is expected to make a full recovery and will eventually be offered for adoption. McGinley said: “We believe that this poor animal was dumped because its owners would not seek the veterinary attention that it needed. “There is no excuse for this and we are very keen to trace those responsible.”
Cover Story Campaigner Betty Holmes said it is vital that our elected representatives are very clear regarding the situation at LGH. With the hospital at the centre of a financial crisis, having budget shortfalls and no money to run the hospital, Mrs Holmes insisted: “The DACC feel strongly that without a very clear and loud message going to the Government, LGH will be downgraded. “If the hospital does not have the money it needs to run the hospital and provide the services a hospital should be able to do, then it does not have security. Money reflects security. If you can’t provide services and meet quality standards because you haven’t the money, then the hospital is being downgraded.” She said Donegal patients have never been a priority at National level, insisting: “ Why should we now believe that in these economic times that our hospital will be on any priority list.
• difficulties with theatre lists for Donegal patients at Galway University Hospital, • the new Special Delivery Unit & fears that this will again be money for private hospitals and the gap in the morning with the NOWDOC service. DACC are asking the people of Donegal to make sure they contact their elected representatives and ministers to ensure that LGH is protected. Mrs Holmes said the DACC would like to thank Senator Jimmy Harte, Deputy Padraig Mc Lochalinn, Deputy Charlie Mc Connalogue & Deputy Pearse Doherty for their time, support & commitment to raise all the issues. She said apologies were received and support pledged from Deputy Thomas Pringle & Junior Minister Dinny McGinley
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