Inundated Dublin animal shelter issues puppy appeal looking for good homes for 60
Many of the puppies taken in to the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) come as part of cruelty cases, were found abandoned, sick or injured or given in by owners who simply could not afford to microchip them.
A wide selection of puppies including lurchers, golden and black Labrador pups, Jack Russells, and springers need loving new homes.
In addition, seven lurcher pups were born in the DSCPA shelter on Monday evening after their mother was brought in as a stray. The mother, named Heidi by staff, is now doing well and her puppies have been named Hilda, Hugo, Hal, Holly, Hannah, Henry, and Harry.
The charity is now looking for a foster home for her and the pups.
Brian Gillen, DSPCA chief executive, said: “There are a lot of puppies here at our centre in Rathfarnham and we really would like them to go to good loving homes.
“Adoption rates from the centre have been going up which means there is a larger number of animals coming through our door and we have been coping with the numbers but at the moment we are inundated.
“We are conscious that Christmas is around the corner and we don’t want people taking the puppies for a short time. Puppies grow into adult dogs so we would appeal to people to be mindful that they are a lot of work — but they will be a friend for life.
“The newborn lurcher pups will be available to take home in the New Year. Many of the puppies have not been microchipped perhaps because their owners could not afford to do so.
“However, it’s the law that any puppy under three months old being sold or passed on to new owners must be microchipped and registered on an approved database. Microchipping is not an expensive process, costing an average of €25 per puppy.”
Mr Gillen pointed out that under the Animal Health and Welfare Act all puppies born in Ireland after September 1, this year are legally required to be microchipped and registered on an approved database.
“We keep an eye on websites that advertise animals for sale such as DoneDeal, Adverts.ie, Gumtree, and dogs.ie and we notice many dogs advertised for sale or saying, ‘free to good homes’, without mention of microchips which is breaking the law,” he said.
