This article is from page 3 of the 2006-05-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE problem of unneutered and stray dogs is reaching epidemic proportions in Clare, with new figures revealing that more than 10 per cent of all dogs destroyed in Ireland each year are put down in the county.
With almost 2000 dogs being destroyed in Ennis annually, careless owners are being blamed for not taking the responsibility for neutering their pets.
Clare has a dog population of around 35,000 and, according to Clare Dog Warden Frankie Coote, many owners are not acting responsible towards their pets.
“It is a major major problem in Clare. The fact that we have to put down between 1500 and 1800 dogs in Ennis each year tells it own story.
“This is despite the Clare ISPCA putting €20,000 towards the problem each year,” said Mr Coote.
This reluctance to neuter dogs is leading to an increasing population of strays in the county and an escalation in the problem of dog dumping, as well as attacks on sheep.
“Dog dumping is becoming a major problem. People just bring their dogs to a remote place and dump them there. The dogs either starve to death or start worrying and killing sheep,” continued Mr Coote.
“If it wasn’t for one farmer last week two beautiful Jack Russell pups would have starved to death after they had been dumped on his land, just two miles off the main road.”
While the cost of neutering may well be a contributing factor Mr Coote is at a loss as to how to encourage owners to take responsibility for their own animals.
“All the vets vary a lot in price from €6 up to as much as €150.
“I’m not sure that the cost of it is the main problem. We have tried absolutely everything to get people to do it but nothing works,” he said.
“You can see by the numbers that are being put down that the problem isn’t getting any better.”
Meanwhile, the Dogs Trust is launching a nationwide campaign today designed at drastically increasing the number of dogs being neutered.
The campaign will offer neutering for dogs at only €14 euros per animal for people on means tested benefits.
In 2004 some 25,000 stray and abandoned dogs were collected by local authorities in Ireland, with 16,598 of these healthy animals being destroyed.