Wexford SPCA Opens New Animal Rescue Hub at Borovalley, Enniscorthy
The Wexford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has opened a new purpose-built animal rescue hub at Borovalley, Enniscorthy, doubling the organisation's capacity to care for abandoned and mistreated animals and providing modern veterinary and rehabilitation facilities that will transform the standard of care available to the county's growing population of rescue animals.
Background
The Wexford SPCA has been caring for animals in County Wexford since 1876, making it one of the oldest animal welfare organisations in Ireland. For most of its history, the organisation operated from a network of foster homes and a small shelter in Wexford town, relying heavily on volunteers and donations to fund its work. The decision to build a dedicated rescue hub was taken in 2019, following a significant increase in the number of animals being surrendered to the organisation — a trend that accelerated sharply during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, when many people who had acquired pets during lockdown found themselves unable to care for them.
The new facility at Borovalley, on the outskirts of Enniscorthy, was funded through a combination of public fundraising, a grant from the Department of Agriculture, and a significant donation from a local business family who wished to remain anonymous. The building was designed by Wexford-based architects Kehoe and Associates and constructed by a local building firm, with the project creating approximately 15 construction jobs over an eighteen-month period.
Key Developments
The Borovalley hub, which opened on Friday, includes kennels for 48 dogs, a cattery for 36 cats, a small animal unit for rabbits, guinea pigs, and other domestic animals, and a dedicated veterinary suite where routine procedures can be carried out on site. The facility also includes a rehabilitation area for animals recovering from injury or illness, a training room for volunteer induction and animal behaviour work, and a public adoption suite where prospective owners can meet animals in a calm, home-like environment.
The new facility more than doubles the Wexford SPCA's previous capacity, which was limited to approximately 20 dogs and 15 cats at any one time. The organisation currently has a waiting list of more than 60 animals whose owners have requested surrender, and the new facility will allow it to begin clearing that backlog immediately.
Wexford SPCA chairperson Máire Kehoe said the opening of the hub was "the culmination of years of work by hundreds of volunteers, donors, and supporters who believed that the animals of County Wexford deserved better." She said the organisation had rehomed 847 animals in 2025 — a record — and that the new facility would allow it to increase that figure significantly in the coming years.
The hub's veterinary suite will be staffed by a part-time veterinary nurse and will have a formal arrangement with a local veterinary practice for more complex procedures. The organisation has also announced a new partnership with Wexford County Council's dog warden service, under which stray dogs collected by the warden will be brought to the Borovalley hub rather than to the council's existing pound facility.
Why It Matters
The opening of the Borovalley hub matters because it represents a significant improvement in the welfare infrastructure available to animals in County Wexford. The previous facilities were inadequate for the volume of animals the organisation was being asked to care for, and the waiting list for surrender meant that some animals were being kept in unsuitable conditions by owners who could no longer care for them while waiting for a space to become available.
The new facility also matters as a model for how animal welfare organisations can develop their infrastructure through community fundraising and public-private partnership. The Wexford SPCA's fundraising campaign, which raised more than €800,000 over four years, demonstrated the depth of public support for animal welfare in the county and provided a template that other regional SPCA branches are now looking to replicate.
The partnership with Wexford County Council's dog warden service is also significant because it creates a more integrated approach to stray animal management in the county. Previously, stray dogs collected by the warden were held in a council facility that was not equipped for long-term care or rehabilitation. The new arrangement will give stray dogs a better chance of being rehomed rather than euthanised.
Local Impact
The Borovalley hub is located on the Enniscorthy Road, approximately two kilometres from the town centre, and is accessible by public transport. The facility will create four permanent full-time jobs — a manager, a veterinary nurse, and two animal care assistants — in addition to the existing volunteer network of approximately 120 people. Local schools in Enniscorthy and the surrounding area have already expressed interest in visiting the hub as part of their animal welfare and science curricula. The Wexford SPCA has also announced plans to establish a community education programme at the hub, covering responsible pet ownership, animal welfare legislation, and the importance of neutering and microchipping.
What's Next
The Wexford SPCA will hold an open day at the Borovalley hub on Saturday June 27, giving members of the public the opportunity to tour the facility, meet the animals available for adoption, and learn about volunteering opportunities. The organisation has said it expects to have cleared its surrender waiting list within three months of opening. It is also planning to launch a new fostering programme in September, which will allow people who cannot commit to permanent adoption to provide temporary homes for animals while they await permanent placement.
