First day of Spay Week Ireland 2009
(7 June, 2009) There is now clear evidence that we are succeeding in our aim of reducing Ireland’s terrible toll of unwanted cats and dogs by persuading owners to spay or neuter their pets. New figures published by the Department of the Environment show that in 2008, the number of unwanted dogs destroyed in Irish pounds fell by 2,580 compared to the same figure for 2007. This represents a very welcome year-on-year fall of 20.39% compared to the same total for 2007, which itself represented a substantial drop from 2006.
Taken together, these figures add up to a positive downward trend that has seen the annual total of dogs destroyed in Irish pounds more than halved compared to the appallingly high figure of 21, 357 recorded in 2002, when Spay Week Ireland was first launched. For all of us who support Spay Week Ireland, these are hugely encouraging figures, providing firm evidence that the initiative is making real impact in terms of convincing more people to take to a responsible attitude to pet ownership.
While the latest figures are welcome, the disposal of even a single homeless pet in this way is one too many. While the daily dog destruction rate has dropped from 40 to 27.58 per day in just two years, this is still unacceptably high and continues to be much greater than that of our nearest neighbour in the UK. While no official figures exist for numbers of stray or destroyed cats in Ireland, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the country’s feline destruction rate is even higher than the canine equivalent.
Spaying and neutering are clearly essential to ending the destruction of unwanted pets. But they can also have important health benefits for both cats and dogs, making it a natural choice for owners. Further information on the health benefits of spaying and neutering are outlined in the attached report.
Spay Week Ireland 2009 is once again supported by the Veterinary Ireland Companion Animal Society (VICAS) and international dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, which since launching its nationwide, subsidised neutering scheme in 2006 has played a significant role in reducing Ireland’s unwanted dog population. This continues to be available and offers dog owners on means-tested social welfare benefits the opportunity to have their dogs spayed or neutered for a nominal fee of €20. The Dogs Trust Neutering Hotline on 1890 946 336.