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THE NUMBER OF dogs destroyed in Irish pounds has fallen by 57%, according to new figures.
The latest Control of Dogs Statistics released by the Department of Rural and Community Development found that 171 dogs, excluding greyhounds, were put to sleep in Irish pounds in 2020, a 57% reduction from the 398 dogs that suffered the same fate the previous year.
One greyhound was euthanised, down from five in 2019.
The report also found the number of dogs entering Irish pounds last year fell by 43%.
5,267 dogs entered Irish pounds last year, down from 9,103 dogs in 2019.
Vet Pete Wedderburn has welcomed the figures, telling The Journal that the number of dogs being euthanised is “an historical low”.
“I have been working as a vet since 1990 in Ireland, and when I heard how many dogs were being destroyed in the pounds every year back then, I was absolutely disgusted. It was an appalling figure. It was around 30,000 every year,” he said.
“The number of stray dogs being destroyed in pounds has never been as low as this.”
Dogs Trust have also welcomed the decrease in figures, but they warned that 2020 was “a very unique year” as the Covid-19 pandemic created an “unprecedented demand” for dogs.
They said that surrender requests have surged by 212% over the last three months as life starts to return to normal across the country.
“2020 was an anomaly, given it saw the biggest demand we have ever seen for dogs in this country,” Executive Director at Dogs Trust Ireland Becky Bristow said.
“We must take that and the fact that some dog pounds had to close at certain points of the various lockdowns, into consideration when looking at this year’s Control of Dogs Statistics.”
Bristow added: “Given that 1,468 dog owners still surrendered their dog to pounds, we are keen to establish the reasons for this and urge local authorities to record the reasons provided.”
Wedderburn is concerned that the number of pets now being surrendered could lead to “a surge” next year.
“Unfortunately, people are now realising what they should have thought about before they took on the puppy, which is that a dog is a lot of work,” he said.
People when they were stuck at home with not much to do thought it was the perfect opportunity to get a dog. But it’s one thing to have a cute, cuddly puppy, and it’s another thing to have a big, bouncy adult dog that costs you €20 a day in boarding fees when you go on holidays, that’s chewing things around the house, that’s annoying the neighbours by barking.
He feels that the biggest issue facing dogs in Ireland is the lack of education on how to take care of them properly, adding that everybody in the animal welfare sphere should focus on helping people avoid feeling that they have to have their dogs surrendered.
“That’s the kind of thing that needs to be done,” Wedderburn said.
“People need to be supported in dog ownership. There’s no doubt that dogs can add a lot to people’s lives, but many people do it wrong. They make mistakes, and that’s not their fault, that’s because they just don’t know better.”
He added that everybody “needs to be proactive” to ensure that the number of dogs being put to sleep continues to fall.
“I really think that if people can be supported with their dogs through adolescence and early adulthood, then most dogs do settle down and become really great pets. They give people a great deal of positive energy in their lives.
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I wonder how many were prosecuted for stealing canine family members?
Unfortunately when things get back to normal numbers will increase again. The rescues are already anticipating being overwhelmed with dogs.
Seemed to be a fad during lockdown when people newly working from home decided to get a dog. Wait until people return to the office…the pounds will be overflowing unfortunately.
A dog is for life,not just for Covid.
I love hearing my neighbours’ dogs. Adopt two, they’ll be great company for each other. If your neighbour is sick and can’t walk a dog, offer to take them out. And try not to judge people who can’t afford to feed them – by surrendering them, they at least have a chance to live with people who love them and can look after them.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: Well i would only judge them if they actually let the dogs starve before they surrendered them. Too many cases of emancipated dogs and the owners saying they cant afford food for them. If they can afford to feed themselves they can afford dog food.
@Pauline Gallagher: If they can’t, or don’t want to spend anything on the pet’s care, it’s still better for the unlucky dog that they do surrender them to a shelter. There are still countries where people kill their unwanted animals. At least give them a chance to be adopted by someone who cares.
The idea seems to have taken hold that every dog needs to be neutered for their health which is not supported by scientific evidence and that it is the responsible thing to do to prevent there being too many “unwanted dogs” when currently I know many who can’t get a dog for love nor money. The only way to get a dog these days it seems is to pay €2K-€3K to some unscrupulous breeder for a puppy that is bred from a bitch who has had ten litters already. At best the breeder pays no taxes and at worst the money goes back to funding organised crime.
@Sean: The only way to get a dog is to pay €2-3k? Can get one for love nor money? Wtf are you on about! Did you not read the article? These people you know could go to the pound.
@Sean: It is very much supported by scientific data that spaying and neutering your pets stops certain types of cancer and some behavioural issues. I recommend you contact a kill pound and take the next dig on the kill list, before you spread misinformation that can result on more on that list.
@Sean: Adopt, dont shop. There are still dogs looking for a home. Shelters are rightly cautious about who gets to take a dog home.
@Sean: Thats not true. It helps with behavioral issues and aggression and some other medical ailments. But most crucially of all, it stops dogs from being used for breeding purposes or from getting out and breeding on their own. While its true that it can be difficult to adapt a rescue because their rules are quite strict (they do want to be sure the dog goes to the right home, after all) its not impossible. In fact, some pounds, especially kill shelters, will probably be more than happy to give the dogs to anyone who wants them enough, rather than the dog face the alternative
@Breda Kelly: is that your opinion of the dogs that are in the pound? Vicious breeds they are not. You should make it your business to visit your local pound. It will break all but the hardest of hearts when you see what’s in there. You can find many breeds in the pound from labradors, huskies, collies, terriers, greyhounds as well as the smaller breeds and puppies. Often the whole litter is sent to the pound. I have two dogs from pounds. One was an abandoned one year old black labrador and the other a surrendered 8 week old collie/ terrier cross puppy. They don’t know what vicious is. Instead of keeping the puppy farms in business we should go to pounds or rescues and give a dog a home. Strays get about 5 days in the pound before being euthanized. Surrendered dogs get less time.
@Jakie McLean: Well said
@Jakie McLean: Well said.
A dog is for life, not just for Covid.
171 too many.
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