'Unprecedented number' of dogs being abandoned and taken into shelters
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An "unprecedented number" of pets, particularly dogs, are being abandoned and taken into shelters, the country's leading animal protection charity has said.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) says it rescued some 724 dogs between January and the end of August this year — 44 more than the total rescued during all of 2022. The ISPCA says the increase highlights "a worrying trend towards pet abandonment".
The charity also says it has entered into a partnership with Mars Petcare in a bid to understand the factors driving pet abandonment, and to raise awareness of the current scale of the issue here.
In early August, the ISPCA and Mars Petcare conducted a survey of more than 1,000 adults to examine the existing barriers to pet ownership and adoption in Ireland.
More than a quarter (27%) of respondents cited potential behavioural issues as the main reason why they would not adopt a dog from a shelter, while almost the same proportion (26%) said a lack of training was the main barrier.
Health issues and a lack of pet-friendly housing were cited as barriers by 22% and 18% of those surveyed, respectively.
Other factors highlighted were a lack of dog-minding facilities, reliance of non-pet-friendly public transport, and a general lack of pet-friendly public spaces.
The research also found that 8% of those who have or who have had one in the past five years had previously given a dog up for adoption, with a further 8% saying they had considered it.
Commenting on the findings, Louise Robinson of Mars Petcare said pet abandonment was now "a serious issue in Ireland at present".
ISPCA chief executive Dr Cyril Sullivan said training was a must for those who are buying or adopting dogs.
"I would strongly encourage those who are considering getting a pet to make sure that they are cognisant of the level of training and attention needed," he said.
“That said, dogs are 100% worth the investment of time for the joy that they bring to their families — research conducted last year found that 91% of dog owners reported positive impacts on their mental health.”
More generally, the ISPCA research found that almost half (49%) of Irish adults own dogs, with ownership levels at their highest in Connacht and Ulster (56%), and lowest in Dublin (39%).
Of these pet owners, 30% of those with dogs adopted their furry friend, 37% got their dog from a breeder, and 33% got their dog through family or friends. Of those who do not own dogs, 60% said they had considered getting one.
“We know that pets contribute to our wellbeing. This new research plays an important role in identifying the current barriers to dog ownership and adoption in Ireland," Ms Robinson added.
"Every dog adopted, is a dog saved, so here at Mars we want to support the pet adoption mission by creating awareness of and alleviating barriers to pet ownership."