Can people really afford a pet? 400 dogs handed in since Christmas
MORE than 400 dogs have been handed in to Ireland’s leading dog charity since Christmas Day.
The figure follows almost 4,000 ‘surrender requests’ received by Dogs Trust Ireland last year – the highest volume the charity has seen since it opened in 2009.
The most common reasons for wanting to give up a dog are owners not having enough time, accommodation issues and dogs showing unwanted behaviours.
However, Niamh Curran-Kelly of Dogs Trust said: ‘We are seeing more and more cases of dogs being abandoned with extensive veterinary needs, and it has made us question if people cannot currently afford to look after their dogs?’
With shelters across the country struggling to cope with the volume of dogs they are being asked to take in and very little space to do so, cases of abandonment are being seen more frequently. The charity recently took in two emaciated crossbreed pitbull puppies – who they named Winnie and Star – who were found at a bog in Donadea, Co. Kildare, by a member of the public.
Dogs Trust assistant manager Sandra Ruddell said: ‘The sight of these two, defenceless little pups with their bones protruding broke my heart. We know there is very little rescue space available at the moment by the sheer volume of dogs we are being asked to take in, but we are begging people not to abandon their dogs, especially young puppies who have very little chance of survival if not discovered quickly.’
Dogs Trust’s Corina Fitzsimons added: ‘It’s incredibly upsetting to see the increase in dogs being abandoned, especially young puppies.
‘While we don’t know what would drive someone to abandon them, it’s clear in their short lives, they hadn’t received the love and care that all puppies need. We are also worried about their mum and if there were any other pups in the litter.
‘We’re glad these two pups are with us now, so we can nurse them back to health until they are ready to be adopted.’
While Dogs Trust said it was delighted to have been able to find loving homes for 1,042 dogs in 2023, they fear that 2024 will bring even more challenges as their resources are stretched to the limit. The charity is appealing to the public to support them with donations. Dogs Trust’s new campaign ‘Save the Next Dog’ was launched last year to highlight the number of dogs facing uncertain futures.
Thrown from a moving car
Jack russell terriers Tiny and Minnie, both around 11 years old, are two of the victims of the crisis after they were thrown from a moving car in Dublin. The dogs came to Dogs Trust to continue their rehabilitation after having their injuries treated by the Irish Blue Cross.
A litter of seven springer spaniel puppies, suffering from sarcoptic mange, a highly contagious condition, were abandoned at the gate to the charity’s rehoming centre.