Give us a home ... but not until after Christmas
YOU could be the proud owner of this pup – but you will have to wait until 2019 to take him home.
The Dogs Trust has called a halt to adoptions over the Christmas period to prevent people rushing out to get puppies as presents.
With 176 dogs currently in residence at the trust’s kennels in Finglas, there will still be plenty to choose from when resumes rehoming from January 5 onwards.
Potential owners can still visit their future friends as the centre will be open over the holidays.
According to experts, getting a dog at Christmas is not a good idea as puppies need structure to settle, while presents and decorations can become dangerous chew toys to untrained dogs.
The group added that dogs are not luxuries but 15-year commitments on which owners can expect to spend about €10,000.
Last January, the charity experienced a 30% increase in the number of owners looking to give up their dogs compared to the start of the previous year.
Of the 2,840 requests to give up dogs the charity received this year, 897 came in the first three months of 2018 and 334 in January alone.
The main reason cited by owners was that they did not have enough time to look after their dogs.
Fianna Fáil senator Catherine Ardagh said the campaign was a ‘sensible approach’ for the charity to take.
‘It sends out a strong message to people that dogs are a huge responsibility and not just for holiday periods,’ she said.
Ms Ardagh said it would be beneficial for other shelters to follow suit to ‘back up the message’ from the rescue centre.
Celebrity animal rights campaigners also rowed in behind the charity calling for prospective owners to hold off on adoptions.
Singer Linda Martin, a vociferous animal welfare campaigner, says she fully supports cancelling adoptions until the New Year.
Ms Martin, who is a patron of Dog’s Aid, told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘It makes sense because families are busy in the run up to the Christmas period and they can’t have a new dog or puppy coming in.
‘I tell people to get a puppy or dog when you have time.
‘The strong message we must put out there is for families not to get a dog at Christmas unless they are 100% committed.’
Andrea Hayes, presenter of TV3’s Dog Tales, says she fully supports shelters and animal charities who have suspended their adoptions.
‘It’s not a dog problem, it’s a people problem, and families can act irresponsibly by surprising a child with a puppy at Christmas time. It’s not the right time of year to introduce a dog to a home.’
Ms Hayes, who has a wealth of experience with dogs through her own work, warned parents to educate their children about the responsibility of owning a dog.
‘Let children know the intention is there to get a dog later in the year, when things have calmed down. People need to realise a dog is not the perfect Christmas gift; [people] have to be ready for the responsibility.’
Executive director at Dogs Trust, Suzie Carley, said that families should wait until after the festive period to decide if they have the time to welcome a new dog.
‘Each year we are saddened and worried by the number of people looking to relinquish their dog, especially in the first few months after Christmas,’ she said.
‘Owning a dog is a long-term commitment so we are urging those thinking of getting a dog to please wait and take due consideration at any time of the year but especially when thinking of getting a dog for Christmas.’
The group also warned against purchasing puppies online, which can result in shoppers unwittingly buying their new pets from illegal puppy farms.
Dogs bought from these farms often have physical conditions due to poor breeding and behavioural problems and the mothers may also be cruelly treated.
New measures are set to be introduced next month in a bid to crack down on illegal dog breeding across the country.
From January, breeders will be subject to unannounced inspections and female dogs will be limited to having six litters each.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that the group had to continue to move animals out of their shelter to care for other animals in distress over the period. They are still running fostering schemes with the option to adopt in the New Year.
They are also urging the public not to buy dogs online.
Ireland is currently regarded as the worst country in Europe for illegal dog breeding.
Comment – Page 12 jane.fallon.griffin@dailymail.ie
‘A dog is not the perfect gift’