Animal Welfare Officers Face Knife Threats

Stab vests and bodycam worn for protection

- Ailbhe Daly

Animal welfare officers have to wear stab vests and bodycams on callouts, it has been revealed.

Officers from the DSPCA and the ISPCA have had to take the extra measures as they attend mistreated animals whose owners may turn aggressive.

Knives being produced and being spat at are some of the situations they have found themselves in.

While these incidents are relatively rare, Gillian Bird from the DSPCA said the protection is essential.

She told the Irish Mirror: “We try and have the animal welfare officers working in pairs when we can.

“There are some areas we go to and officers have to wear stab vests and bodycams.