Cork dogs charity records 'unprecedented' demand for service
Puppies Winnie and Star recovering in Dogs Trust Ireland after they were found in an emaciated condition on a bog in Co. Kildare. Photograph: Fran Veale
WITH national figures showing a dramatic increase in requests to rehome dogs, a Cork dog charity says it is facing an “unprecedented” demand for its services.
National dog charity Dogs Trust this week reported that it had received 412 requests since Christmas Day from members of the public seeking to surrender their dogs to the charity’s care.
That figure follows on from the 3,968 surrender requests the charity received last year, the highest volume Dogs Trust has seen since it opened its doors in 2009.
The reasons most provided by owners for wanting to relinquish a dog into the care of Dogs Trust are a lack of time, accommodation issues, and dogs exhibiting unwanted behaviours.
Cork dog charity Dog Action Welfare Group (DAWG) told The Echo that the figures reported nationally roughly tallied with its own experience in the Munster region since Christmas.
Máire O’Sullivan of DAWG said the charity had received in the region of 100 surrender requests since Christmas.
“Requests are definitely extremely high, and a lot of time-sensitive requests, with people who have been trying to rehome the dogs themselves, or people who are in a situation where their landlord has told them their dog has to go immediately,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
Ms O’Sullivan said the charity will occasionally see a particular breed is in demand, but, she said, that tends to be the only situation in which rehousing gains traction.
“It’s a hidden aspect of the housing crisis, because people are unable to find places that will take them and their pets, people who might be facing uncertain housing situations and have much-loved pets that they can’t take with the.,” she said.
Anyone interested in rehoming a dog is asked to visit the DAWG website www.dogactionwelfaregroup.ie/.
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