Animal welfare of little consequence
It has nothing to do with the many problems that dominate our headlines from day to day but relates to the kindness, compassion and concern (or lack of) for what we generally refer to as man’s best friend - ie, our dog population.
I recently visited a facility for stray and lost dogs and found the experience very upsetting.
Official figures indicate that in excess of 25,000 dogs are put to sleep in this country annually. That does not include dogs ‘put down’ by their owners, be it by drowning, dumping them on roadside or abandoning them on beaches or in woods.
One of the biggest problems associated with the number of unwanted dogs in Ireland is that so many dog owners will not have their dog spayed or neutered.
The Government is also lacking in any initiative with regard to the welfare of dogs and animals in general. There are a number of animal sanctuaries and welfare groups operating throughout Ireland which are largely left to their own devices to come up with funding. Their costs can be substantial yet they receive little Government aid.
The recent campaign in Ireland on spaying and neutering was largely financed by Dogs Trust, the biggest animal welfare charity in Britain. Also, many Irish animal sanctuaries send dogs to England and other countries such as the US for re-homing.
I intend to revisit my abandoned canine friends and give a home to a few of them. Unfortunately, I do not have the space or money to take them all. The saddest part will be making the choice and always wondering about the ones I will have to leave behind.
St Frances of Assisi said: “If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”
Emma Twohig
Glounthaune
Co Cork
