Campaigners fear increase in dog dumping as recession bites

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

Animal welfare charities are bracing themselves for a flood of abandoned animals as increasing numbers of owners dump unwanted cats and dogs in the face of growing economic recession.

ASH Animal Rescue reports that they have already experienced a marked increase in the number of homeless animals brought to their centre in Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow. “So far this year we have rescued an average of 30 cats and kittens and 50 puppies and dogs per month, as a result which we are now at full capacity.” says Remi le Mahieu of ASH.

“If you talk to any animal rescue centre around the country they will tell you the same story. The fear now is that as the economy goes into recession, uncaring owners will make the huge problem with unwanted cats and dogs even worse by simply abandoning their pets. We have even seen a big increase in the number of pure-bred dogs that are being dumped.”

Spay Week campaigners say it’s time pet owners did their sums

Monday, May 26th, 2008

A subsidised spay and neuter scheme operated by Irish vets with the support of an international dog welfare charity is set to make a positive impact on the huge toll of unwanted dogs that are destroyed in the country’s pounds every year.

Since it was launched by Dogs Trust in mid-2006, over 26, 000 dogs have been spayed or neutered under the scheme, which with funding from the charity is now available in 360 veterinary clinics nationwide.

(l to r) Brenda Comerford, Dogs Trust Campaigns Manager Ireland, Minister John Gormley, Vet Pete Wedderburn and Remi Le Mahieu from ASH Rescue (who provided the puppies).

Newstalk presenter Claire says it’s time to break our 40-a-day dog destruction habit

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

Newstalk 106 presenter Claire Byrne got together with some furry special friends today (Wednesday 21/05/07) to highlight Ireland’s shocking addiction to destroying unwanted cats and dogs.

(Remi Le Mahieu, ASH, Claire Byrne, Newstalk, Pete Wedderburn, Vet, and puppies taken in by ASH.)

Most recent figures from the Department of the Environment show that 14, 598 unwanted dogs were destroyed in Irish dog pounds in 2006, representing a daily destruction rate of 40 dogs for every single day of the year.

Won’t you please, please spay me – video

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Cats and dogs can’t drive to the clinic — they need a little help getting spayed and neutered. Music video created by Alliance for Humane Action (AHA!)