Newstalk presenter Claire says it’s time to break our 40-a-day dog destruction habit
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.
“As a nation we seem to be addicted to destroying helpless animals as a way of dealing with the problem of unwanted pets. It’s time to break our deadly 40-a-day habit,� says the Newstalk Breakfast Show anchor.
Claire posed with the homeless puppies and kittens at a photo call to mark the launch of Spay Week Ireland 2008, the annual awareness campaign that aims to end the appalling toll by encouraging more owners to spay or neuter their pets.
Her cuddly co-stars are all abandoned animals that have been saved from destruction by the ASH Animal Rescue Centre in West Wicklow, but according to TV vet and Spay Week organiser Pete Wedderburn, most are not so lucky.
“The figures are truly staggering,� says Pete Wedderburn says. “In Ireland, we destroy unwanted dogs at ten times the rate of our nearest neighbours in the UK. Three out of every five homeless Irish dogs are destroyed. If it was not for the tremendous work animals charities across the country put into finding new homes for unwanted dogs, the figures would be even worse.�
He adds that while no official figures are available for unwanted cats, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that Ireland’s stray and abandoned felines die at an even higher rate. According to one estimate, a staggering 180,000 kittens die each year within a week of birth.
Spay Week 2008 is supported by a nationwide network of vets, animal welfare volunteers and charities – all promoting the message that the only way to end the scandal is for people to take a more responsible attitude to pet ownership by ensuring their cats and dogs are neutered of spayed.
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The campaign is supported by VICAS (Veterinary Ireland Companion Animal Society) and international dog-welfare charity Dogs Trust, which in co-operation with participating vets runs a nationwide subsidised neutering campaign that offers dog owners on means-tested social welfare benefits the opportunity to have their pets spayed or neutered for a nominal fee of €20.
According to Dogs Trust Ireland Campaigns Manager Brenda Comerford, almost 26,000 dogs have been spayed or neutered since the scheme was launched in mid 2006.
“If you consider that every dog spayed or neutered under our scheme could potentially have produced several litters of unwanted pups, you can see how our scheme is making a big impact. So we are delighted with the high level uptake to date and we plan to continue building on this success. And with 345 vets taking part, people can now avail of the scheme right around the country,� she says.
Across the country, many charities such as the ISPCA and DSPCA offer local discounted neutering schemes for those who are unable to afford normal veterinary fees. These include the Irish Blue Cross, which offers a low cost neutering scheme for pet owners in needy circumstances to have their cats or dogs spayed or neutered for one third of the normal cost.
According to Pete Wedderburn spaying or neutering is not only crucial to ending the plight of Ireland’s unwanted cats and dogs, it also offers significant health benefits to pets.
“There are a lot of myths about spaying and neutering such as that it is supposed make dogs and cats fat and lazy, that it changes their personalities or that females should have at least one litter. The truth is that spaying or neutering is good for your pet’s health. The risk of cancer plummets, they’re less likely to be aggressive and they live longer as a result.�
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Spay Week Ireland: Visit: Spay Week Ireland website
Dogs Trust Spay & Neuter scheme: Call Dogs Trust Neutering Hotline at 1890 946 336.
Blue Cross Spay & Neuter scheme: visit Blue Cross Website
ASH Animal Rescue ASH Website
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