Dogs Trust.

lian81

Hi just wondering if any has been to the new dog trust shelter in ashbourne and what was it like.

namurt

Completely forgot that was opening. Might go see it tomorrow. Pity the website doesn't have any dogs up on it yet, but I guess all that takes time. Will keep you posted if I go.

9wetfckx43j5rg

lian81 wrote: »

Hi just wondering if any has been to the new dog trust shelter in ashbourne and what was it like.

Yup I went out the other day. It's amazing, absolutely everything is state of the art. Bigger than I expected. The reception is large open plan with lots of seating and all vistors are allowed visit the rehoming block even if your not looking to adopt. We saw all the dogs and chatted with a member of their friendly staff who told us all about the place. Go and check it out, you won't be dissappointed.

Toulouse

Had a full tour of the facility the other day and it's absolutely amazing. They have thought of everything, lovely staff, the dogs in the rehoming section are nice and chilled out, not like walking into the pound. I asked a load of questions but they really have it all right down to the DAP collars on the new-comers.

Would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of popping up.

If anyone has any suitable bedding, old duvets, towels etc. I'm sure they'd appreciate it too.

tk123

I'm heading up to them this afternoon with puppy food that our guy didn't take to. I hope they sell stuff like DSPCA where they make a dontation - then I won't feel guilty for spoiling the puppy!

namurt

We were up there today. Absolutely amazing set up. We brought two lovely dogs out for walks and were accompanied by the behaviourist!!! Not only do they have an area to walk the dogs but they also have enclosed compounds so you can see what the dog is like running free. We brought our fella along to meet his potential new brother so it was great being able to let them suss each other out away from other dogs. It's all very professional and the welfare of the dogs is clearly the first priority. I felt a bit overwhelmed at first having to fill in forms before we even got to walk a dog but I can see why it would be a good way to deter people from going in with one idea about what they're looking for but then falling for an unsuitable dog...if that makes sense. Would definitely recommend a visit.

PetrovthePrat

I was out there today with the better half. Very impressive set up. The kennels are laid out really well,and each one of them was spotless. The dogs have bedding and an exit to a run away from the public. The dogs seemed happy and comfortable. The staff are very welcoming and seemed switched on. We met the behaviourist who walked two dogs with us. She really knows her stuff. The attention to detail in everything from the questionnaire to the lay out of the walking area is incredible. We expressed an interest in adopting a hyper crossbred and the staff arranged a meeting between our dog and the possible new dog for us. The behaviourist was on hand and managed the meeting wonderfully. Again,the attention to detail was incredible,right down to removing a toy that the mutts may have fought over. We weren't certain about taking the new lad home just yet,but the staff were very understanding and helpful about arranging further meetings. I'd sent off for my volunteering application a while back and I'm bloody glad I did. I'd imagine working even a few hours there a week would be very educational.

Clare Bear

I hope they put the dogs they have up on the website. Must call out during the week, sounds like they have a great set up there.

Discodog

Let's hope that this will inspire Councils to improve standards in their pounds.

lian81

Thanx a million for all your replys it does sound like a great place and can't wait to visit. does anyone know what the process is of getting a dog.

Discodog

Whilst we all appreciate the work of the Dogs Trust please don't forget that there are lots of other rescues who's dogs need homes just as badly & who need funds desperately.

It would be a shame if the DT became the place to home a dog from. Yes the facilities are superb but other rescues could be just as nice if they had a spare €10 million.

votejohn

Discodog wrote: »

Whilst we all appreciate the work of the Dogs Trust please don't forget that there are lots of other rescues who's dogs need homes just as badly & who need funds desperately.

It would be a shame if the DT became the place to home a dog from. Yes the facilities are superb but other rescues could be just as nice if they had a spare €10 million.

Although if it becomes 'cool' to rehome dogs from dogs trust, it will allow them to take in even more dogs, and will remind people to look at shelters before they look at breeders.

YamaMotoYama

Hi folks - I know this is a little off topic but are there any bus services that run to the Dog Trust?

Thanks in advance!

tk123

There's a bus eireann bus stop just past it but I've no idea what bus goes there - i'd assume one of the ashbourne ones - 103/104?

namurt

Discodog wrote: »

Whilst we all appreciate the work of the Dogs Trust please don't forget that there are lots of other rescues who's dogs need homes just as badly & who need funds desperately.

It would be a shame if the DT became the place to home a dog from. Yes the facilities are superb but other rescues could be just as nice if they had a spare €10 million.

This is true but they have a lot more than just their facilities going for them. What you get when you rehome from them is pretty brilliant. We recently rehomed a dog from a pound. The initial fee was very low but then when you add neutering, microchipping and vaccinations on top of that it really adds up. However, with Dogs Trust all of that and more is included in what is still quite a low fee. I know there is an awful lot more than just the initial cost involved in making a decision about a dog but it is certainly a consideration.

ISDW

namurt wrote: »

This is true but they have a lot more than just their facilities going for them. What you get when you rehome from them is pretty brilliant. We recently rehomed a dog from a pound. The initial fee was very low but then when you add neutering, microchipping and vaccinations on top of that it really adds up. However, with Dogs Trust all of that and more is included in what is still quite a low fee. I know there is an awful lot more than just the initial cost involved in making a decision about a dog but it is certainly a consideration.

You seem to be mistaking the pound with rescues.

There are a lot of small rescues around the country, the great majority of them run by volunteers and most of them also neuter, microchip and vaccinate dogs before rehoming.

I have nothing but admiration for the Dogs Trust, I have supported them for years, since the days that they were the National Canine Defence League, and I'm delighted they've opened up here in Ireland. Their neutering scheme has really helped the problem of unwanted dogs here. Does anybody know what their policy is on what dogs they take in? Are they taking dogs from pounds, or just strays and cruelty cases?

I hope that they will expand, and open centres all around the country, would be great for the dog population here.

Vel

Does anyone know where they are taking dogs from?

kanine

The dogs come from everywhere, D.S.P.C.A., Dogs in distress, Dunbone pound, Clare, Cork, Louth S.P.C.A, to name but a few but you get the picture. Dogstrust actually help the above mentioned charity's and pounds by helping to relieve overcrowding and also help many dogs from pounds who are due for destruction have a chance of a happy healthy life with a loving caring family. The dogs are to the best of the staffs ability matched with the most suitable people to ensure their chances of a happy life.

Hope this answers your question.

campervan

kanine wrote: »

The dogs come from everywhere, D.S.P.C.A., Dogs in distress, Dunbone pound, Clare, Cork, Louth S.P.C.A, to name but a few but you get the picture. Dogstrust actually help the above mentioned charity's and pounds by helping to relieve overcrowding and also help many dogs from pounds who are due for destruction have a chance of a happy healthy life with a loving caring family. The dogs are to the best of the staffs ability matched with the most suitable people to ensure their chances of a happy life.

Hope this answers your question.

Hi Kanine,
Do you know if they have this information recorded somewhere? I was looking on the website but it doesnt say where the dogs come from. Do you know do they cover the release fees from these pounds? It would just be interesting to know, considering that the dog charity that works with Dunboyne pound has to pay the release fees for any dog that is currently taken out, which is crippling the charity. It certainly is good news if they are relieving charities of dogs though

Toulouse

As far as I know the Dunboyne ladies don't have to pay the release fee for dogs going to Dogs Trust as the new facility satisfies the Councils requirements to have the fee waived so it's great. Means the badly needed funds raised can go to help the other dogs.

Clare Bear

Toulouse wrote: »

As far as I know the Dunboyne ladies don't have to pay the release fee for dogs going to Dogs Trust as the new facility satisfies the Councils requirements to have the fee waived so it's great. Means the badly needed funds raised can go to help the other dogs.

That's great, I know the release fees are a big burden for the Dunboyne gang, I still think it's crazy that they have to pay the release fee like the general public but delighted that Dogs Trust will be helping them out.

afarrell1

Anyone know if there are many small dogs / puppies up there? Am trying Ashton Pound since Thurs and no one answering... mailed Dogs in Distress and no one replied. This adopting a dog is proving harder than I though :mad:

9wetfckx43j5rg

Yup theres lots of little dogs.

They have their own "puppy bloc" which wasn't open to see when I was there but then again I wasn't trying to adopt.

Clare Bear

There's lots of small dogs and pups. They should have photos up on their site soon hopefully but try and go up there for a look if you can, they're very friendly. Also, go on to the forum on DID and tell them you've mailed but got no reply, they post on there all the time so someone should see it and help you.

brfcireland

hi i just wanted to say that the 10 million was all raised or donated by the public, the problem over here is most pounds are terrible prison like places for dogs that the people who run them are in it for the money its just as bad as a dog farm. its the likes of the voulenteer organisations that do the work for free should be praised, the government has to get off their over paid fat asses and see that animal welfare can't keep getting overlooked the laws in this country are a joke dogs need more rights.

suziwalsh

The new centre is absolutely amazing better than expected am completely speechless and highly reommend visiting it!!! Well done all involved!!! I am thrilled DT has come to Ireland!!!:D

bookerboy

I'm heading over in the morning.If you see a dog you like can you take him on the spot?Is there a fee/donation?If it dosen't work out,can you bring him back and try a different one until you find the one that suits you?

9wetfckx43j5rg

bookerboy wrote: »

I'm heading over in the morning.If you see a dog you like can you take him on the spot?Is there a fee/donation?If it dosen't work out,can you bring him back and try a different one until you find the one that suits you?

God no. It's all far more offical than that, it's a dog not a item of clothing.

In the dog's trust you will be introduced to the dog, take him for a walk, you'll be asked lots of questions, they will visit your home to amke sure it's suitable and there's no exchange programme. It costs around 85 euro as far as I know. The process takes two weeks I think.

Discodog

brfcireland wrote: »

hi i just wanted to say that the 10 million was all raised or donated by the public,

And this was raised by the UK so all credit to them for helping us out with an Irish problem.

seamus

It's worth noting that Dog's Trust only look after healthy strays or abandoned dogs - they do not rescue injured or sick animals, instead leave them in the pound to be destroyed.

Although rescuing the dogs is noble, it effectively means that this practise deprives charities which deal with cruelty and neglect cases of their income from rehoming healthy dogs.

Discodog

seamus wrote: »

It's worth noting that Dog's Trust only look after healthy strays or abandoned dogs - they do not rescue injured or sick animals, instead leave them in the pound to be destroyed.

Although rescuing the dogs is noble, it effectively means that this practise deprives charities which deal with cruelty and neglect cases of their income from rehoming healthy dogs.

Are you sure about this ?. If so it would be totally against their mission statement:

"To establish and maintain rescue/re-homing centres for the care, treatment and re-homing, where possible, of unwanted, homeless, stray, ill-treated, injured and sick dogs and to provide a permanent home for life for all those that cannot be re-homed.
To ensure that no mentally and physically healthy dog taken into the protection of the rescue/re-homing centres shall be destroyed".

Please let me know if you are sure that this is the case & I will raise it personally with their CEO.

star-pants

Just a note - if you look at the .ie website it says

Our mission in Ireland is to bring an end to the destruction of stray and abandoned dogs. We aim to achieve our goal in a number of ways

They talk about neutering and educating and rehoming. There's nowhere on their website that has any info on 'if you find an injured dog' or areas for sick dogs.

Discodog

I have contacted Clarissa Baldwin, their CEO, & knowing her I will have a definitive answer soon - she usually does her email at 5 am !

They should know about cruelty & sick animals as their director here is Mark Beasley who used to run the ISPCA.

Blueprint

Well, I know for a fact that they take elderly sick dogs in, as they took a 12 year old worn out Collie in off one of the dog rescues earlier this year.

cianer

seamus wrote: »

It's worth noting that Dog's Trust only look after healthy strays or abandoned dogs - they do not rescue injured or sick animals, instead leave them in the pound to be destroyed.

I heard this too, know people who were turned away with strays or abandonded dogs they found

Toulouse

The Dogs Trust centre in Dublin is a re-homing centre, it's not a rescue as such, their goal is to rehome dogs. They take in all kinds of rehomeable dogs, old, young, etc.

I'm sure they will take the odd sick and injured but as a rule the impression I got from them when I visited the centre was that it was strictly a re-homing centre and not a rescue.

Paul91

Is there any chance they might open one up in Cork barring in mind the rate of PTS down here

suziwalsh

seamus wrote: »

It's worth noting that Dog's Trust only look after healthy strays or abandoned dogs - they do not rescue injured or sick animals, instead leave them in the pound to be destroyed.

Although rescuing the dogs is noble, it effectively means that this practise deprives charities which deal with cruelty and neglect cases of their income from rehoming healthy dogs.

Thats not actually correct, Dogs Trust cannot take in strays only surrenders or those going through the pound system. It is not legal to pick up a stray dog and take him/her in for rehoming, they must do their stay time in order for their owners to be given a chance to reclaim them.

Also I have first hand experience of their staff driving to emergency vets with two very sick and injured dogs that a member of the public brought to their attention.

Discodog

That's not strictly true. Anyone can take in a stray. The only legal obligation is to notify the nearest Garda station. There is no requirement to contact the Pound or Dog Warden.

Control of Dogs Act:

A dog warden or a Garda may seize a dog found straying and may enter a premises other than a place of dwelling in order to effect this seizure (Section 11(1)(2)). If an ordinary member of the public, not being a Garda or a warden, finds a dog which is a stray dog they may take possession and according to Section 13(1) “shall forthwith :-

return the dog to its owner, or
deliver the dog to a dog warden, or
detain the dog and give notice in writing containing a description of the dog, the address of the place where it was found and the address of the place where it is detained to the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was found, or to the dog warden.”

Give a notice to the local Gardai or dog warden containing the following information-
I) A description of the dog,
ii) A statement as to where the dog was found,
iii) the dog’s new address.

If the person who is a licenced owner of the dog comes to claim him the finder/other person must give him back. However if the finder retains possession of the dog for a period of one year or more, the finder can become the new owner of the dog, the previous owner’s title becomes extinguished.

So whenever any dog is rehomed the ownership of the dog does not revert to the new owner for 12 months. Often the key wording is "licensed owner".
If the original owner does not have a license covering the period when the dog was missing they will have a problem with proving legal ownership.

The moral of the tale is that if you rescue a stray & want to keep him, get a license straight away.

seamus

suziwalsh wrote: »

Thats not actually correct, Dogs Trust cannot take in strays only surrenders or those going through the pound system. It is not legal to pick up a stray dog and take him/her in for rehoming, they must do their stay time in order for their owners to be given a chance to reclaim them.

No, of course, but they will take strays from the pound

Also I have first hand experience of their staff driving to emergency vets with two very sick and injured dogs that a member of the public brought to their attention.

I have no doubt that their staff love animals and will take the above action if a sick animal is found "in the wild". However, I have heard other services complaining that Dog's trust simply won't take an animal if it's missing a body part, in need of constant medical care or otherwise not "showroom", because they can't rehome it. Thus leaving other services to care for these animals.

I could be wrong - the anecdotal stuff could be wrong, and it may simply be a case that they haven't yet set up the facilities here to cater for cruelty and neglect cases.

Paul91

why are we complaining about a group who are trying to help the animals in this country - they are taking in and rehoming dogs, they are neutering and vaccinationg them so they won't add to the problem of too many dogs in the country - unlike the CSPCA who handed me a pregnant unvaccinated GS with no home check - if you wan to complain about a group involved with dogs, look for one who's adding to the problem not ones trying to solve

suziwalsh

Paul91 wrote: »

why are we complaining about a group who are trying to help the animals in this country - they are taking in and rehoming dogs, they are neutering and vaccinationg them so they won't add to the problem of too many dogs in the country

HEAR HEAR

Also to add that Dogs Trust have spent over €5 million neutering dogs here in Ireland over the last 4 years, that is pretty amazing.

Funny enough I was up there today and had a little laugh...the first dog I saw was a 3 legged greyhound

I applaud ANYONE working or volunteering in animal rescue.

namurt

Paul91 wrote: »

why are we complaining about a group who are trying to help the animals in this country - they are taking in and rehoming dogs, they are neutering and vaccinationg them so they won't add to the problem of too many dogs in the country - unlike the CSPCA who handed me a pregnant unvaccinated GS with no home check - if you wan to complain about a group involved with dogs, look for one who's adding to the problem not ones trying to solve

So true. Surely every dog that gets rehomed should be considered a success no matter where they are rehomed from. We are going to collect our new dog from Dogs Trust tomorrow and I can't wait. I have nothing but good things to say about them.

Discodog

I have received a quite detailed response from Clarissa Baldwin CEO of the DT. I will either post the entire mail or a precis of their policy shortly once I have official clearance.

GinaH

Was told yesterday by someone who works in Ashton Pound that the Manager there will no longer give dogs to Dogs Trust. What an awful shame seeing as they are neighbours

JamesTaylorfan

lian81 wrote: »

Hi just wondering if any has been to the new dog trust shelter in ashbourne and what was it like.

I just want to say that it's a long way south of Ashbourne and is probably nearer Finglas.
Aside from that it's very nice and worth a visit.

JamesTaylorfan

YamaMotoYama wrote: »

Hi folks - I know this is a little off topic but are there any bus services that run to the Dog Trust?

Thanks in advance!

The Ashbourne bus 103 from Liberty Hall through Finglas would stop outside it if you asked nicely....after all it goes right past it.

Discodog

The following is a copy of the email sent to me by Clarissa Baldwin CEO of the Dogs Trust. It is posted with her full permission:


Dear Peter

Very many thanks for your e mail. So glad you are hearing many good things about the Dublin centre but disappointing that there are critics out there already!

Some of what they say may have a foundation of truth but overall it is fiction.

Dogs Trust role is to save dogs from destruction and to reduce the number of unwanted dogs. The latter is done through a massive neutering campaign, in Ireland alone we have neutered nearly 30,000 dogs in 3 years, we also have an Education officer investing huge amounts of time educating the dog owners of tomorrow.

The former is clearly the sticking point, first and foremost we believe that the greater number of dogs that we rehome the more we can save. If we fill our kennels with sick dogs we will leave many hundreds of healthy dogs to die. BUT having said this, we are welfare people with vocational staff who would not dream of deserting dogs in need and I give a few examples below of dogs that we have in our care/or recently rehomed that perhaps help to bear out this fact.

Sash (was called Jessie), a black 1 year old female Lab X. Came in from Laois SPCA with a fractured femoral head and metacarpal. So far we have spent in excess of €750 on Jess to nurse her back to health. On top of that we've found her a lovely home where she is now getting hydrotherapy sessions to aid her recovery!

Lisa, a tan coloured two year old female Pomeranian X. Lisa came to us from Wexford Dog Pound with a badly dislocated hip. She has had 2 lots of x-rays so far with an operation in between to put the femoral head back into place. She may still require further surgery if the hip fails to stay where it should. She is a lovely dog and we will do whatever it takes to ensure she regains use of her leg.

Mable and Sherlock and two beautiful (in our eyes anyway!) Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They are 11 and 8 years old respectively and came to us from Dunboyne Dog Pound. Both Mable and Sherlock are 'getting on a bit' and will require on going vet treatment for arthritis and a number of other ailments for the rest of their lives. They are very sweet natured dogs and we are hoping they will find a loving new home soon!



We have been open for business about 6 weeks and I have no doubt the “problem” dogs will grow but we must try to ensure that the greater number for the greater good prevails. Ireland will largely follow the UK pattern where 30 % of the dogs in our care have been with us for over 6 months. These are sick dogs/old dogs or just rather plain dogs. We also have around 1,000 dogs on a foster scheme where we are paying all or part veterinary fees. So hopefully you will agree that our critics are wrong!!!!

Warmest best wishes

Clarissa

Clarissa Baldwin OBE

GinaH

Always loved Clarissa, she is one great & fair lady

Discodog

Yep she is. Mind you she is slacking a bit. She usually emails at 5am but this one was 8am !. Astonishing dedication & to keep it up for so many years. Whatever the criticism it's wonderful that the DT chose to come here & invest so much.

Also how many CEO's are there who would answer in such detail, so quickly & be prepared to have the email made public.

GinaH

Discodog wrote: »

Yep she is. Mind you she is slacking a bit. She usually emails at 5am but this one was 8am !. Astonishing dedication & to keep it up for so many years. Whatever the criticism it's wonderful that the DT chose to come here & invest so much.

Also how many CEO's are there who would answer in such detail, so quickly & be prepared to have the email made public.

LOL that is true Discodog, Clarissa usually replies at about 6am. I could only aspire to be half the woman she is, you should see IGB listen to her in awe.

It was Clarissa that invented the slogan "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas' Many many years ago. She has given us advice and assistance for almost 10 years.