DOGS TRUST NEUTERING CAMPAIGN

Many countless lovely dogs (pedigrees also) are destroyed every year in Ireland..this has to be good news. The more that can be neutered then the better. There is a very high 'latch key' mentality to owning dogs in Ireland. So dogs left out all day will most certainly be 'fathers' many times over..

Celebrities back charity's drive to tackle stray dog problem.
Cork success leads to roll-out of Dogs Trust neutering campaign across Ireland.
Celebrities Shayne Ward, Linda Martin, Rosanna Davison, Louis Walsh, Pat Kenny, Gerry Ryan, Chris Parker and Pete Wedderburn are supporting the charity Dogs Trust by helping them launch a subsidised neutering campaign throughout Ireland. The campaign, launching on 2nd May 2006, offers neutering for dogs at 14 euros for people on means tested benefits. It has been launched in order to reduce the number of stray and abandoned dogs throughout Ireland. In 2004 approximately 24,572 stray and abandoned dogs were collected or handed into Local Authorities in Ireland, with 16,598 of these healthy stray and abandoned dogs needlessly destroyed – the equivalent of 45 dogs a day*. While local authorities make every effort to reunite stray dogs with their owners, take dogs to rescue shelters, or find new homes, dogs are still being destroyed for want of a home. Dogs Trust never destroys a healthy dog. The charity believes that prevention is better than cure and that neutering is the most effective and humane way of reducing the numbers of stray dogs.
The decision to launch the campaign nationwide follows a successful pilot that ran in Cork at the end of 2005. Over 900 dogs have already been neutered through the campaign, with the charity being inundated with calls from areas outside Cork from people who were keen to have their dogs neutered.
Neutering is a simple procedure that also has great health benefits for dogs. Neutering can help protect against certain types of cancer, such as womb cancer in bitches and testicular cancer in males. Having a bitch spayed will also put an end to packs of dogs following her around while she is in season and it can stop male dogs from wandering off looking for romance! Most importantly it prevents unwanted litters of puppies.
The animal-loving stars backing the campaign feel very strongly about the importance of this campaign.
Shayne Ward says:
“I am very happy to be helping Dogs Trust launch this important campaign. The number of stray and abandoned dogs collected is quite staggering and Dogs Trust neutering campaign will hopefully make a real difference to this number.”
Linda Martin comments:
“We are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers, but with such a high number of our stray and unwanted dogs destroyed every year, there are a lot of dogs needlessly suffering due to our inability to look after them. I very much welcome and support the work of Dogs Trust in helping us tackle this problem.” Dogs Trust Campaigns Manager Iris Denieffe comments:
“We are thrilled that the pilot scheme has been such a success and that we are now able to offer this service nationwide. We already have had over 200 responses from vets keen to take part.
By tackling the issue of stray dogs, we are working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.”
The neutering campaign offers people on means tested benefits the opportunity to neuter their dog for just 14 euros. Anyone interested is invited to call the Dogs Trust National Neuter Hotline on 1890 946 336. The campaign is being run through participating veterinary surgeries.
For further information on the neutering campaign, please contact Iris Denieffe on 00353 1 2109426 or email dogstrust@eircom.net
* Figures published by Ireland’s Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 2004.
-ENDS-
LINDA MARTIN, ROSANNA DAVISON, GERRY RYAN, PETE WEDDERBURN AND IRIS DENIEFFE ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE PRESS OFFICE ON (+44) 020 7833 7616.
For more information, please contact Dogs Trust:Claire Duke, Press Officer, Dogs Trust (+44) 20 7833 7616 email: claire.duke@dogstrust.org.uk
Iris Denieffe, Campaigns Manager, Dogs Trust 00353 1 2109426 or email dogstrust@eircom.net