Charity: 45 stray dogs are killed a day

ALMOST 16,500 stray or abandoned dogs are needlessly put down in Ireland each year, animal rights activists revealed yesterday.

As a new campaign to cut the number of animals being destroyed started, charity Dogs Trust said that 45 healthy dogs were destroyed each day.

The charity is hoping to reduce the number of unwanted litters, and therefore the number being put down, by offering neutering for as little as €14.

The campaign organisers said around 24,572 strays were collected or handed in to authorities in Ireland in 2004, 16,598 of these healthy animals were destroyed.

Former Miss World Rosanna Davison, X-factor star Shayne Ward and presenters Gerry Ryan and Linda Martin joined members of the Dogs Trust charity to launch the subsidised neutering campaign throughout Ireland.

Plans for a national campaign follows a successful pilot scheme run in Cork at the end of 2005 which saw more than 900 dogs neutered.

Iris Denieffe, Dogs Trust campaigns manager, said: “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 which begins on May 2 offers people on means-tested benefits the opportunity to neuter their dog for 14.

Anyone interested in the neutering service is invited to call the Dogs Trust National Neuter Hotline on 1890-946336.