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03/09/2008
NI Leads Dog Euthanasia League
A canine welfare charity is urging people across the Province to re-home a rescue dog (like Xander, pictured) before purchasing a 'retail rover'.
Dogs Trust's annual Stray Dogs Report published today has revealed 4,041 dogs were destroyed in Northern Ireland last year; making NI one of worst areas for animal welfare in the UK.
The report showed an estimated 96,892 stray dogs were taken in by local councils across the UK last year; 6,710 of which were put to sleep for want of a home.
Despite the sustained efforts of both animal welfare organisations and local authorities, on average 11 stray and unwanted dogs an hour are handled by local authorities.
Every 80 minutes a dog is put to sleep. Each hour five dogs are reunited with their owners, three are taken to welfare organisations and one is re-homed.
The report conducted by GfK NOP on behalf of Dogs Trust shows a reduction from the previous year but as the charity’s Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, explains, there is still much work to do: "This is the first year that the number of stray dogs in the UK has dropped below 100,000.
"But this is still far too high a figure - it's 6,000 more than the number of seats at Wembley.
"For a nation of so-called animal lovers it is unacceptable that pets are being treated as throwaway commodities. Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right.
"Dogs Trust is working closely with local authorities and runs extensive education, neutering and microchipping campaigns to help them to tackle the issue.
"As a result the number of stray dogs has dropped gradually in the past ten years.
"However the onus remains on owners to accept their responsibility. Get your dog neutered and microchipped and ensure he is wearing an ID tag so that if he is lost he can be reunited with you more easily," she said.
The charity believes the most effective and humane way of reducing stray dog numbers in the long-term is best achieved through education, neutering and microchipping.
Last year microchips helped reunite 30% of strays with their owners.
Dogs Trust invests approximately £5m each year in neutering, microchipping and education programmes in the worst affected areas of the UK including Northern Ireland, North West, North East and Wales.
Since the campaigns began in 1999, over 270,000 dogs have been neutered and 228,000 have been microchipped through Dogs Trust.
(GK/JM)
Dogs Trust's annual Stray Dogs Report published today has revealed 4,041 dogs were destroyed in Northern Ireland last year; making NI one of worst areas for animal welfare in the UK.
The report showed an estimated 96,892 stray dogs were taken in by local councils across the UK last year; 6,710 of which were put to sleep for want of a home.
Despite the sustained efforts of both animal welfare organisations and local authorities, on average 11 stray and unwanted dogs an hour are handled by local authorities.
Every 80 minutes a dog is put to sleep. Each hour five dogs are reunited with their owners, three are taken to welfare organisations and one is re-homed.
The report conducted by GfK NOP on behalf of Dogs Trust shows a reduction from the previous year but as the charity’s Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, explains, there is still much work to do: "This is the first year that the number of stray dogs in the UK has dropped below 100,000.
"But this is still far too high a figure - it's 6,000 more than the number of seats at Wembley.
"For a nation of so-called animal lovers it is unacceptable that pets are being treated as throwaway commodities. Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right.
"Dogs Trust is working closely with local authorities and runs extensive education, neutering and microchipping campaigns to help them to tackle the issue.
"As a result the number of stray dogs has dropped gradually in the past ten years.
"However the onus remains on owners to accept their responsibility. Get your dog neutered and microchipped and ensure he is wearing an ID tag so that if he is lost he can be reunited with you more easily," she said.
The charity believes the most effective and humane way of reducing stray dog numbers in the long-term is best achieved through education, neutering and microchipping.
Last year microchips helped reunite 30% of strays with their owners.
Dogs Trust invests approximately £5m each year in neutering, microchipping and education programmes in the worst affected areas of the UK including Northern Ireland, North West, North East and Wales.
Since the campaigns began in 1999, over 270,000 dogs have been neutered and 228,000 have been microchipped through Dogs Trust.
(GK/JM)
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14 August 2002
NI has highest number of stray dogs in UK
The National Canine Defence League (NCDL) and National Dog Wardens Association (NDWA) have revealed that Northern Ireland has the highest number of stray dogs in the UK. According to their latest joint survey, there is one stray dog for every 151 people in the province – compared to one for every 1,400 in London.
NI has highest number of stray dogs in UK
The National Canine Defence League (NCDL) and National Dog Wardens Association (NDWA) have revealed that Northern Ireland has the highest number of stray dogs in the UK. According to their latest joint survey, there is one stray dog for every 151 people in the province – compared to one for every 1,400 in London.
03 August 2009
Hero Army Dog Handlers Honoured
Murdered soldiers who worked with specialist 'sniffer' dogs during the Northern Ireland Troubles have been remembered. The 'Red Paw' and its work across Northern Ireland was the subject of a special memorial service held in England at the weekend. It was in honour of the six dog handlers and two sniffer dogs killed in Northern Ireland.
Hero Army Dog Handlers Honoured
Murdered soldiers who worked with specialist 'sniffer' dogs during the Northern Ireland Troubles have been remembered. The 'Red Paw' and its work across Northern Ireland was the subject of a special memorial service held in England at the weekend. It was in honour of the six dog handlers and two sniffer dogs killed in Northern Ireland.
20 July 2004
Nearly 4,000 stray dogs killed in NI last year
Local authorities in Northern Ireland destroyed nearly 4,000 stray dogs last year according to a new survey by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity. The figure equates to an average of 11 dogs a day being put to sleep – an increase of 15% on the previous year and in stark contrast to the 2% decrease seen across the UK as a whole.
Nearly 4,000 stray dogs killed in NI last year
Local authorities in Northern Ireland destroyed nearly 4,000 stray dogs last year according to a new survey by Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity. The figure equates to an average of 11 dogs a day being put to sleep – an increase of 15% on the previous year and in stark contrast to the 2% decrease seen across the UK as a whole.
09 November 2006
Family escape stray dog attack but pet killed
A pet labrador killed by a pitbull-type dog, which attacked a family while they were walking in a County Antrim forest park, has been praised for saving their lives. The attack happened in Randalstown Forest Park while the family of four and a foreign exchange student were out with their four dogs.
Family escape stray dog attack but pet killed
A pet labrador killed by a pitbull-type dog, which attacked a family while they were walking in a County Antrim forest park, has been praised for saving their lives. The attack happened in Randalstown Forest Park while the family of four and a foreign exchange student were out with their four dogs.
06 September 2005
NI tops stray dogs figures
A new survey has revealed that local authorities in Northern Ireland collected nearly 11,000 stray dogs during the past year, with over a third of these needlessly destroyed.
NI tops stray dogs figures
A new survey has revealed that local authorities in Northern Ireland collected nearly 11,000 stray dogs during the past year, with over a third of these needlessly destroyed.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
