Animal welfare - How safe is that doggie in the window?

SOME of those pups, kittens and ponies that seemed such a good idea — as a present for little Aaron or Amanda — just before Christmas will be beginning to grate on the nerves of some people just about now.

Those people who did not realise that the animals need to be fed every single day. Those people who did not realise that animals make a mess, make noise and need attention every single day, no matter what time you get home from work.

Some of those people contributed to the 16,338 dogs — just dogs — surrendered to or collected by the ISPCA in 2006. In the same year 14,598 unwanted dogs were put down. That’s more than 1,000 a month but does not reflect animals disposed of in other ways.