LIFESTYLE – Finding suitable homes for dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or abused is what drives the staff and volunteers of animal charity, MADRA. Its services are under strain currently, due to an increase in the number of animals being abandoned or given up for adoption, coupled with rising costs and staffing issues. MADRA’s founder Marina Fiddler tells JUDY MURPHY about its work and the importance of its annual arts auction.

Well-known city auctioneer Colm O’Donnellan will be in full flight this Saturday afternoon, using his mellifluous tones to best advantage as he encourages people to flash their cash and buy the goods he’s selling.

But instead of the bricks and mortar that are his normal fare, Colm will be auctioning paintings that local and national artists have donated to the Camus-based dog shelter MADRA – Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption. The event will be held at the PorterShed, in the city’s Market Street car-park, and will also be accessible online.

Nationally, those who have donated work for this year’s auction include Kevin Sharkey, Frank O’Sullivan, Paul Crozier, Pádraig McCaul, Jin Yong and Ausrine Kuze.

Here in Galway, Grace Cunningham, Joan Kilfeather, Elena Santos, Rachel Dubber and Aoife Dowd are among the artists who’ve contributed.

Unsurprisingly, many of the pieces have wildlife themes and sometimes these are quirky, as is the case with Lithuanian-born Ausrine Kuze – she and several others have donated more than one piece.

This annual auction is an important event for MADRA, serving as a fundraiser and also helping to raise its profile.

It’s been a busy year for the charity which works to rehouse dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or abused – and there’s no sign that there will be a let-up any time soon, says the group’s founder Marina Fiddler.

As we speak, she’s working to sort out a litter of pups that was left outside Galway Dog Pound. Rather than complaining about this, Marina observes that the person who abandoned those pups didn’t just dump them in the wilds for other animals to eat. By leaving them at the pound, the pups have been given some hope of a future. It’s just one of five litters that MADRA has taken charge of in the past three weeks.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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