THE DSPCA HAS said it is run off its feet with the amount of cats and dogs which have owners have asked it to rehome – and there are still 25 days until Christmas.
In the last week alone, the DSPCA said that it had received rehome requests for 25 dogs and 20 cats and kittens.
According to the DSPCA, the reasons given include that the owner is moving house, the animal is “biting the children” or “unwilling to work on training”. Others said they had allergies or the animal had gotten too big.
One person even told the DSPCA that they had multiple dogs but wanted “to get rid of the troublesome ones”.
Gillian Bird of the DSPCA said: “One case involves an owner who can no longer care for his five terriers ranging from one to six years of age. We appreciate that some callers are genuine but the trend is worrying and continues to get worse each year and the calls increase the closer to Christmas we get.
“It is not unheard of for pet owners to surrender their pet dog as it has become ‘too bold’ only to replace it with a new puppy at Christmas.”
“We have heard all the excuses possible, my personal favourite was from a family who felt that their old and slightly smelly dog did not fit into the newly refurbished kitchen where they would be preparing and eating Christmas dinner with their extended family.”
The DSPCA wants to remind people that their pet is a member of the family and “not a disposable item”.
Yesterday, it emerged that two foxhounds and five cocker spaniels were rescued after they were smuggled from Ireland to Wales in the boot of a car.
The puppies were found in two crates that came off the Rosslare to Fishguard ferry last Thursday at 1.30am.
The foxhounds were around 10 weeks old, while the cocker spaniels were just eight weeks. Authorities had serious welfare concerns about the puppies, and they were seized and signed over to the RSPCA.
The seven dogs were fed and watered by the RSPCA overnight and, after a quick trip to the vet, it was confirmed that they were fit to travel back to Ireland.
ISCPA chief inspector Conor Dowling said: “This incident again shows how some people are willing to disregard the welfare of defenceless animals and break the law purely to make a quick buck. Thankfully, on this occasion, multi-agency cooperation meant that they were stopped.”
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