‘Don’t go to puppy farms or use Gumtree... sanctuaries are best’
Margaret Wade, welfare manager at the Mid Ulster Animal Sanctuary, says it’s a busy time for the centre and for animal welfare in general. “Quite a lot of sanctuaries coming up to Christmas would stop homing animals because it’s a very busy time,” she says. “We find that we get a lot of animals in now and they will not be rehomed until after Christmas.
“So many people get puppies for presents for their children and then they realise a week down the line that this wasn’t such a good idea and then they move the animals on and give them to anybody just to get them away.”
At the moment, the centre is caring for 36 dogs and 25 cats, with more due to arrive in the coming days.
“They would come out of the dog pound or from people in general who can’t look after them anymore or can’t keep them,” Margaret says.
“Maybe something happened to their owners — they’ve gone into hospital or passed away or gone into a wee flat or something where they can’t look after them.”
But even for older pets, there is always someone to take them, she stresses.
“You always do find someone there who will take on an older animal. You are trying to find that right place. If they aren’t used to children or cats or other dogs, it can be a bit of a challenge, or it might be used to space on its own.”
Staff have been busy in the run-up to Christmas, organising the Christmas fair, and the animals won’t be forgotten on the big day.
“Over Christmas we have staff and volunteers that come up on Christmas morning and Boxing Day morning to help get the dogs walked and bring stuff up for Christmas dinner,” Margaret says. “It’s a very good atmosphere in the kennels at this time of the year because everybody is doing something to help.
“It would be very busy around Christmas because you have people that have taken on animals, can’t keep them and realise in a few weeks they shouldn’t have got them because they haven’t time for them.”
Margaret advises anyone considering getting a pet to ask the staff at the animal sanctuary what pet they recommend to fit in with their family and lifestyle.
“I think people would probably be better thinking about it more and researching what kind of animals they would like. Don’t go to Gumtree, don’t go to puppy farms, but do use the sanctuaries.
“Come in to meet the animals we have and let the staff choose the animal they think is right for you after talking to you. They would look for what people want and need and match it up that way,” Margaret says.