Crisis point with abandoned animals says welfare charity

The rising number of abandoned dogs and other animals in the county has reached “crisis” point according to local animal welfare charity, Cavan SPCA.

According to figures released by the Department for the Environment, 245 canines were taken in by the dog warden in County Cavan last year, compared to 208 in 2013.
Of that, 45% of the dogs taken in were transferred to animal welfare groups like Cavan SPCA, who have seen that spike in numbers continue into 2015. Furthermore, the charity has also worryingly noticed a massive drop-off in the number of people willing to adopt rescued animals.
“Over the past three months things seem to have gotten worse. It’s heading off a cliff,” Tina Boyle of CSPCA told The Anglo-Celt last week.

Packed to capacity
Currently in possession of four pregnant bitches, all of which are due to give birth to their litters shortly, Tina’s kennels are already packed to capacity. She says the charity may have to take the unfortunate decision to stop taking in animals altogether if the trends continue.
“We’ve four pregnant bitches and all of them were found dumped in in their last trimester. There’s another pregnant in the pound at the minute and we have to work to try find a place for her too before she gives birth.
“It’s gotten to a point where I’ve 32 dogs with me at the minute and I can’t possible bring in any more,” says Tina.
The Department’s figures show that last year, 24% of dogs lifted were rehomed.

No animals rehomed in three months
However, Tina tells the Celt that CSPCA, who work with the County Dog Pound and warden Aidan Woods to ensure all dogs not adopted find rescue places, haven’t been successful in rehoming any animal for at least three months.
“That’s adding to the problem. If the rest of the counties are as bad as the rest of us, I think we’re at crisis point.”
Nationally, some 16 dogs were destroyed by pounds around the country every day last year. In Cavan, eight per cent of dogs taken in by the warden were humanely put to sleep, while two died through natural causes.
Some 6,589 dog licences were issued in the county last year. But Tina says prospective dog owners are seemingly turning away from taking in a rescued dogs on the mistaken belief “they have some kind of baggage” and are instead handing over wads of cash to commercial breeders for new puppies.
“All our dogs are vaccinated, wormed and neutered if of age. Instead, we’re finding in six or eight months down the line, they can’t meet their bills then the dog just gets chucked out. It’s happening more and more. It’s definitely worse this year than ever before.”
Last year also saw a rise in the number of enforcements relating to dog welfare in the county, at 18, up from 15 in 2013.
Tina says in the worst instances, CSPCA have found dogs abandoned at houses where the previous occupiers had simply up and moved, either due to work commitments or otherwise.
“We’ve had calls from neighbours where animals have been tied up at the side of houses or locked inside. The landlord doesn’t want to know and we have to come and take them away.
“At least if you come to us we can give advice and, in some cases, people might realise it’s maybe better for their lifestyle not to have a pet. What we keep telling people coming to us is that they need to be prepared that what they’re doing is for life!,” says Tina.