Latest Government figures released from the *Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, reveal the shocking statistic that out of the 17,477 dogs and puppies that entered the pound system last year, 10,574 were voluntarily handed over by their owners as no longer wanted. That’s almost 29 dogs per day.
Dogs Trust Executive Director, Mark Beazley explains:
“When a dog is picked up by a dog warden and enters the pound system as a stray, the pound has a legal obligation to keep the dog for 5 days in case the owner comes forward looking for their pet.
However, when a dog is handed over by its owner, the pound has no legal obligation to keep it for any length of time and the dog could be put to sleep the same day. The majority of these dogs are healthy animals surrendered by owners who cannot or, in some cases, will not care for their pet any more.”
Dogs Trust has been actively working with pounds acrossIrelandin order to rehabilitate stray and abandoned dogs and rehome them through their centre inDublin. Operations Manager at Dogs Trust, Catriona Birt comments:
“Of the dogs entering our Rehoming Centre, 70% have come directly from the pound system with the majority of them being there, through no fault of their own. No breed is exempt from being abandoned or surrendered. Since we opened in 2009 we have rehomed almost 3,000 dogs and we have genuinely seen almost every size and type of dog come through our doors.”
Dogs Trust is currently operating at full capacity with over 160 dogs and puppies in their care, including pregnant bitches, week old puppies and golden oldies like Delgato an eight year old Boxer. If you are considering getting a dog, why not give a stray or abandoned dog a second chance of love and of life. For more information visit www.dogstrust.ie or call to Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, Old Asbourne Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. Opening hours 12 noon – 4pm including weekends, closed on Tuesdays.