20th August 2006

Stray Dogs A Major Problem

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It's an issue we associate more with developing countries but a new survey has found that there were a staggering 100,000 stray dogs last year in the UK. What can we do about this problem?

A new report conducted by GfK NOP on behalf of Dogs Trust shows that 101,586 stray dogs were found in the UK last year, and 7,743 dogs were destroyed for want of a home. At the current rate of decline, it will take 350 years until the stray dog problem is a thing of the past.

While this represents a small reduction from the previous year, Dogs Trust says dog owners must help tackle the problem by having their dog neutered to stop litters of unwanted puppies, and to save healthy dogs from unnecessary death. While Dogs Trust never destroys a healthy dog in its care, not all stray dogs are brought to Dogs Trust. Those found by local authorities are held while every effort is made to reunite stray dogs with their owners, take dogs to rescue shelters, or find new homes, but the final resort is destruction. Some dogs may also be put to sleep due to injury or ill health.

Dogs Trust Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, explained, "100,000 dogs found stray is a shocking number and should be a wake-up call to dog owners. For a nation of so-called animal lovers, it is unacceptable that we are prepared to treat animals as throwaway commodities, and dog owners must take responsibility for their pets.

"At Dogs Trust we are working hard to put an end to all unnecessary destructions, and are working closely with local authorities to achieve this, but unless dog owners think about the commitment needed to look after a dog, dogs will continue to be put to sleep."

Dogs Trust believes that the most effective and humane way of reducing stray dog numbers in the long-term is best achieved through neutering. The charity also promotes microchipping as a way of reuniting owners with their dogs should they go missing. Last year microchips helped reunite 24% of stray dogs with their owners.

"The message is clear," says Ms Baldwin. "Get your dog neutered to prevent unwanted litters. Make sure your dog has a microchip and ID tag to ensure that if he does get lost he can more easily be reunited with you."

The charity has an extensive campaigns programme to promote neutering and microchipping, and in the last year alone, has invested over £3m in neutering and microchipping in the worst affected areas in the UK. Since the scheme began in 1999, 187,500 dogs have been neutered and 206,814 have been microchipped through Dogs Trust, and as a result the numbers of stray dogs and the number of destructions have fallen by 3 percent, but this latest survey proves that it's not enough.

There can be happy endings, of course, when prospective pet owners seek out rescue dogs rather than buying from breeders or pet shops. Susan Tucker rehomed two elderly, stray rough collies earlier this year. She brought Laddie home in May, after he was found straying in Bideford and taken to the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in Ilfracombe by a member of the public.

When another stray - an elderly Collie called Josie - needed a home a few weeks later, the Dogs Trust staff thought of Susan and contacted her to see if she would be willing to take her too. Susan took Laddie to Dogs Trust to meet Josie.

She says, "I was so pleased to give Laddie the comfortable retirement home he deserved in his twilight years, and when I heard about Josie I thought it would be nice for him to have some company.

"It's likely that they've spent much of their lives unloved as strays which explains why they always look so pleased to see me when I get home in the evenings. They are the best of friends, and even my cats seem happy to share the house with them."

"In Leeds, Snoopy the English Bull Terrier was brought into Dogs Trust as a stray, and was adopted in June this year. It is believed that Snoopy was given up by his previous owner and luckily found his way to Dogs Trust. Thankfully he was in OK shape and immediately settled in to the rehoming centre. He has always been extremely affectionate and full of fun. He is approximately 4 years old, but he is so playful that his new owners, Mr and Mrs Flynn, believe him to be even younger."

Carolyn Flynn said, "Snoopy is an absolute joy and is possibly the most playful dog I have ever known. He is great with children and other dogs and he loves playing with his toys. He is such a lovable dog and is always full of kisses. Adopting Snoopy has changed our lives for the better."

Although these happy stories detract from the sad statistics, if your own pet went missing it could be rehomed with new owners or much worse, destroyed. We know that all dogs may wander off if given the chance, and the risk of them getting lost is even higher if they are being looked after away from home by relatives or friends or if you take them on holiday with you.

If you are going on holiday, think about your dog's identity disk. Does it contain your home phone number, rather than a mobile? If you are on holiday in the Lake District when your dog wanders off, anyone calling your home phone number in Birmingham is not going to be able to contact you. Likewise, if you are abroad on holiday and your dog gets lost when your friend or a relative is looking after it back home, your home phone number is of no use in reuniting the dog with its temporary carer. It's worth investing in another identity disk, which should cost less than five pounds, with an appropriate phone number on it.

The best chance of re-uniting your family and your pet is to microchip. You can call your microchip data holder to add another number if you are going away, or it may be helpful to add a friend's number to the original information, just incase you are halfway across the Atlantic when a vet calls to tell you your missing pet has been found.

Your vet should be able to advise you on microchipping, and to perform the procedure, which takes seconds and is just like giving the dog a vaccination injection. You can also enquire of Dogs Trust Campaigns Team directly. All Campaign Managers work directly with Local Authorities and charities to provide chipping throughout their region. Call 0845 606 3036 or email campaigns@dogstrust.org.uk or visit the Dogs Trust Website for contact details of your local regional campaigns manager.