Irish Animal Charities Continue Chain of Giving with Ecclesiastical Insurance

Two more Irish charities are the latest to benefit from Pay It Forward, a new giving initiative promoted in Ireland by Ecclesiastical Insurance. As the campaign continues to gain momentum, An Cat Dubh Sanctuary near Ennis, Co. Clare, becomes the fourth Irish recipient, nominated by fellow animal rescue organisation Working Animal Guardians (WAG).

How it works: Pay It Forward is a pilot initiative developed by Benefact Group, the parent company of Ecclesiastical Insurance. It puts the power of giving in the hands of charities themselves. Five organisations across Ireland and the UK each received an initial £2,000 donation and were then invited to nominate another charity to receive the next donation, creating a ripple effect of kindness. In total, 25 charities will benefit from the £50,000 fund.

Working Animal Guardians, based in Dublin, rescues dogs who have been abandoned, surrendered or neglected, and ensures they receive medical care and permanent homes. They will use the donation primarily to support veterinary costs and purchase enrichment toys to improve welfare outcomes for the dogs in their care.

They have chosen to pay it forward to An Cat Dubh Sanctuary, a self-funded animal welfare sanctuary located between Ennis and Miltown Malbay in West Clare. Founded and run by Rhona Lucas, the sanctuary provides refuge to a variety of animals including cats, dogs, donkeys, ducks and hens.

Speaking on the Pay it Forward movement, Brenda Fitzpatrick, Co- Founder & Director at WAG, said: “At WAG, we work to raise awareness of the welfare issues facing Bull Breed dogs and promote responsible ownership. As a small foster-based rescue, we’ve rehomed hundreds of dogs since 2016. This generous donation will make a real difference to the welfare of those in our care, and we’re deeply grateful for the support.”

On their acceptance of the donation, Rhona Lucas, Founder of An Cat Dubh Sanctuary, said: “We’re so delighted to have been awarded the Pay It Forward donation – we’re a small self-funded sanctuary so £2,000 will make a huge difference to us. With the money we are going to create a ‘Catio’. It’s a secure outdoor enclosure that we will use for cats who can’t mix with other animals due to illness. It means they can enjoy the outdoors and fresh air and are free to roam around within the space but will remain safe.”

Today’s announcement follows earlier donations to Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland and Bear’s Paw It Forward, both based in Cork, which kicked off the Irish arm of the Pay It Forward campaign.

“The Pay It Forward campaign continues to uncover inspiring grassroots charities across Ireland,” said David Lane, Managing Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance. “From Cork to Dublin to West Clare, each step of the chain has revealed powerful stories of compassion, care and community spirit. We’re proud to support charities that are lifting each other up, and we can’t wait to see where in Ireland this journey takes us next, as we prepare to announce the final charity on this giving chain on Monday, 9 June.”

To follow the Pay It Forward journey, visit: https://benefactgroup.com/payitforward