Ireland's disposable dogs

international | animal rights | opinion/analysis Thursday December 07, 2006 06:59 by Jupiter - ANVILIreland

As Christmas approaches we all need to be aware of the importance of proper animal care, in particular dogs and cats, many of which when puppies and kittens are given as Christmas presents. It might be a great idea at first but what about when reality sinks in and by the time New Year arrives your puppy has chewed your child's favourite new toy? Or your kitten has clawed her way round your new leather handbag? Animals are exactly that- animals, and without lots of advanced planning and preparation it is un-realistic to treat them like cute Christmas presents that can be played with then put away.

January is a very busy time for animal rescue groups throughout the country as the aftermath of the un-wanted Christmas puppy begins to un-fold, many of them are abandoned or dumped, and numerous kittens are left outside and alone to fend for themselves, some getting killed on the roads, while others just add to an already un-manageable feral cat problem.

There is also the other option of taking your un-wanted puppy/dog to the local dog pound. But how fair is this on the dog? And what actually happens when they go there? Many of you may already know what a dog control unit, or dog pound does, but for those of you who don't fully understand how they work here are some statistics which may make you think twice before surrendering your animal there. In recent years both North and South Tipperary dog pounds have been up in the top of the list for the some of highest dog destruction figures, along with Counties Cork and Limerick who also regularly top the pole. To give you a clearer view the vast number of dogs going through Tipperary pounds annually the figures are as follows;-

North Tipperary For 2003 = 421 For 2004 = 390 For 2005 = 377
North Tipperary In % For 2003 = 89% For 2004 = 90% For 2005 = 90%
South Tipperary For 2003 = 862 For 2004 = 963 For 2005 = 898
South Tipperary In % For 2003 = 94% For 2004 = 95% For 2005 = 95%

The chart clearly shows that there is a massive dog control problem. When a dog is taken by the dog warden to the pound, it has 5 days to either be re-claimed or adopted. A surrendered dog can be destroyed that very day. If not adopted the dog is killed using a lethal injection. As the figures show an average of 8 dogs a week are being euthenaised in North Tipperary with more than double that in South Tipperary. They quite simply become dogs on death row.

With such a tiny percentage getting re-homed it's about time we stood up and took more notice of what is actually going on here and try to do more as a community to reduce the numbers of dogs ending up in our pounds in the first place.

Comparing Ireland and our 4, million population to say, Scotland's 5 million population they destroy on average only 800 dogs a year compared to our rate of over 16,000- that's 20 times less than us!!! Hannah Fitzgerald of Tipperary based animal welfare group, Cottage Rescue says It's shocking to think that so many dogs are put to sleep simply because certain members of our modern day society still see this as an option

The lack of breeding legislation is likely to be one of the main causes. There are simply too many puppies being born and not enough homes to go round. There are reputable breeders out there, but sadly many breeding dogs are kept in terrible conditions, often locked in crates in dark sheds without exercise, sunlight or a proper diet. Some bitches are bred so much that they develop huge mammary and uterine tumours that often lead to cancer and early death, and yet they are still left to breed. These so called puppy farms need to be avoided at all costs- getting a dog from a place like this will only lead to more problems for your dog, yourself and your family. Puppies from such places are at a much higher risk of genetic illnesses due to in-breeding, and fatal diseases like parvo virus and distemper are common in places with such poor hygiene standards. Future emotional problems for the dog are also common; these are brought on by such a stressful and deprived start in life. All this adds up to extra expense for you, and heartache for your family when the dog may not mature as you had planned. It also means that you are supporting a barbaric dog trade that is sweeping across Ireland. This issue urgently needs to be addressed. If you are planning on getting a new pet please consider the following facts.

First be sure that you can afford a dog, it will need a proper diet as well as regular veterinary care. You also need plenty of time to train a dog as it is the training that makes it the ideal pet you are looking for. If you don't have the time re consider, and wait until you do have more time.

You also need a safe and secure garden, dogs cannot teach themselves the green cross code, and roads are dangerous. If you are not fenced in it's simply a matter of chance as to whether your dog gets killed on a road or not. Why take that chance?

By adopting a dog from a pound instead of going to a reputable breeder you are likely to be saving a dog's life.

You could also consider adopting from an animal rescue group.

Always make sure your dog wears a collar with I.D and/or is micro-chipped. If picked up by the dog warden your un-identified dog could meet the same fate as the majority of other pound dogs.

If you decide a cat might suit you better remember kittens need to live indoors until fully vaccinated to keep them happy and safe, they will also need a litter tray. Cats will always need access to warmth, food and shelter, although more independent than dogs, cats are still domestic animals and need proper care.

Always spay and Neuter you pets. There is no medical evidence to suggest that neutering you pet is anything other than a good thing, for more details about neutering contact your local vet.

We all need to try and be more animal aware and become more responsible for improving animal welfare in Ireland. If we all think about the choices we make when we buy animals, and be more aware of what being a responsible animal owner entails we will eventually start to see an improvement in the number of dogs being destroyed in our pounds and the number of unwanted and stray animals declining. Spokesperson for ANVIL Ireland, Miriam Anderson, said "the indifference to companion animals witnessed in our society is mirrored by government apathy".

At present there is no government minister responsible for the protection and welfare of pet animals which is a totally unacceptable situation. Anderson says that "ANVIL Ireland will be pushing for updating of the animal protection legislation which is coming up to its centenary. The Celtic Tiger may be roaring, but the cries of our neglected animals are falling on deaf ears, we intend to give animals the voice they need", she said.

To find out more about animal legislation in Ireland go to www.anvilIreland.ie or to contact the dog pound and ask about adopting a dog ring North Tipp 067 33323- South Tipp 052 33322.
By Tracy Devaney

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