Ms Sarah Lynch:

As we mentioned earlier, even having it accessible in a digital format would be one step to improvement. In our centre, should a stray dog come in on a Friday evening and we can see from the chip on Europetnet that it is registered to a certain database, then we might not be able to check it online. People with access to the databases cannot enter anything; they have to make a phone call, but these businesses are only available during business hours from Monday to Friday. If it comes in at 4.55 p.m. on a Friday, we will not be able to check it.

We were looking at rescues - informing the local authorities, of course, and following procedure - becoming almost like weekend pounds. A person must wait until Monday morning at 9 o'clock when he or she can get hold of that database. If every database was online, at least, and it was mandatory for them to have all this information accessible in a digital way whereby those who have access can access it 24-7, it would make everything much quicker, particularly in terms of reunification. We all have dog owners worrying all weekend thinking the worst has happened to their dog.