Today 3 October, marks World Animal Day and Galway charity MADRA (Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption) are advocating for Ireland’s homeless dogs.
The rescue and rehabilitation shelter recently conducted a national census on dog homelessness in Ireland.
The study revealed that 2,924 homeless dogs are currently housed in rescues and pounds throughout the country.
Although this figure is a slight decrease from last year, the exact number of homeless dogs waiting to enter the system remains unquantifiable.
The study was conducted in partnership with Galway County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development. It collected data from over 120 rescue organisations and local authority pounds across the country.
The report also highlighted the brutality faced by these vulnerable and voiceless animals.
Dawn Divilly, Director of Operations at MADRA has expressed her concern for the number of dogs currently awaiting a place in a rescue centre.
“We’re constantly making decisions on what dog gets the next space.”
Dawn admits that this is an incredibly though decision to make and “sometimes those decisions can actually be life or death decisions for dogs.”
Several factors can contribute to the levels of dog homelessness. Many are due to the aftermath of the pandemic as dog abandonment persists.
The cost-of-living crisis has also made matters worse as expense is too high for some owners.
Unfortunately, puppy farming still plays a significant role in health and behavioural problems among dogs. Additionally, the refusal to spay female dogs contributes to unwanted litters.
When talking about these factors, Dawn said, “we have a very disposable society these days” and dogs are at the forefront of that matter.
In relation to the XL Bully ban, Dawn expressed her concern around the issue and stated, “like every animal welfare organisation in the country, we don’t agree with the ban.”
She continued by saying that “it doesn’t reduce dog bites, dog attacks or fatalities.”
Dawn says that solving the problem is complex and takes a long time and “bans can be seen to be quite a quick fix politically.”
To help combat the issue of dog homelessness, MADRA are urging the public to consider adoption, spay and neuter your dog to control population growth and consider the responsibility of dog ownership before buying.
To find out more information you can visit https://www.madra.ie/