Pounds filling up with older dogs to make way for replacements.

Cherry Blossom

I'm absolutely disgusted by this.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/older-dogs-are-being-traded-in-to-make-way-for-christmas-puppies-463617.html

Tigger

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

I'm absolutely disgusted by this.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/older-dogs-are-being-traded-in-to-make-way-for-christmas-puppies-463617.html

Stunned

dr.fuzzenstein

It's not a new phenomenon. A lot of people own pets who shouldn't own a pet rock.
Getting a dog should be subject to check ups and tests and giving it up should be like getting rid of a child. Aside from all puppy farms getting shut down and anyone involved in coursing or dog fighting jailed and hit with massive fines, the welfare of animals should be properly enforced.
But of course "shure they're only dogs", no one gives a sh*t.
Chipping and registering should be absolutely mandatory at birth and should be checked/enforced at every visit to the vet.
And the joke of a dog license in Ireland has to end, the dog should be properly registered.
I pay over €300 a year for 3 dogs in Germany, but at least there's some proper enforcement, so I gladly pay knowing that there's a system in place. Not that that stops rogue operators in Eastern Europe selling pups with zero chance of a healthy life, quite frankly I wish for scum like that to be locked into their own cages and fed on whatever filth they gave their dogs for 20 years.
An animal deserves respect and is a living creature, not like buying a car because the reg number needed to be updated.
A lot of subhuman scum out there.

Cherry Blossom

I'm going to assume these dogs never see the inside of a house because why on Earth would you dump a house-trained dog in favour of starting again with another.

razorblunt

They (the dog owners) should be reported.

Then again, what good would that do?

screamer

Not surprised at all. We live in a total throw away society. I'd even say the dogs are not bring put in to make way for a new puppy, rather that Christmas is coming up and people will be on holidays, visiting family etc and don't want the hassle or expense of a boarding kennel for the dog so off to the pound with them.

I was just talking about this phenomenon today as it happens. Was explaining to a friend that there's three stages to it.

The first stage has started already with people abandoning or surrendering dogs in the run up to Christmas. Because they're going away and dont want to pay for kennels, because they're looking to spend all their money on toys and gifts and food and drink and getting rid of the dogs means more money for the above, because they have people visiting so it's less hassle or because they're getting a new pup for Christmas.

The second stage is getting that Christmas puppy. The pup they didn't source from a reputable breeder because they don't sell Christmas puppies. Nope the designer pugalier or doodle or cavachon or whatever , that you'll see them proudly walking on Stephens day without any of its vaccinations.

And then stage three... January , February pups being abandoned and surrendered left right and centre. Who knew a pugalier puppy would pee inside? Can't be having that! Who knew a huskador would grow so big?! No bloody thanks.

Sickens me that people think a living, loving creature is something to be bought and disposed of on whims.

I've actually just signed up to foster for a rescue. Unfortunately with Khali's lung condition I can't take a dog straight from a pound so it has to be coming from a foster that can no longer keep it or surrendered straight from a home. Has to be female to keep Hiro happy and has to be good with cats as I've got two who are the center of everything. All that means I'm hardly the prime candidate fosterer but we really wanted to help so we're there if the right dog comes along to help ease the burden so many rescues are facing into over the next couple of months.

DBB

Having run a rescue for the guts of 20 years, this is not news.
For as long as I've been involved in rescue, the influx of surrendered dogs happens before Christmas. Not after.
Plus ça change, I'm afraid.

DBB

DBB wrote: »

Having run a rescue for the guts of 20 years, this is not news.
For as long as I've been involved in rescue, the influx of surrendered dogs happens before Christmas. Not after.
Plus ça change, I'm afraid.

Yeah I don't know why they're saying it's a new thing. It's absolutely not.

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

scarepanda

Dr.fuzzenstein, we're just on our way back from a short stay in Germany, and I have to say it was absolutely brilliant how dogs are a very visible part of their daily life over there. We saw so many dogs everywhere! On the s-bahn, in restaurants, student accommodation, and of course in the streets and parks. And they were all so well behaved! We loved it and our 15month old girl, who is besotted with dogs was in her element!

jacksie66

jacksie66 wrote: »

Our fella Bruce is nearly 2 and I couldn't imagine leaving him. He'd loose his life. He's a part of the family and absolutely adored.

I honestly don't know how people can mistreat animals. As the saying goes, They might only be there for part of your life but to them you are their whole life..

Hes so gorgeous!!!!

Zapperzy

Coming into our second Christmas without Charlie I honestly cannot comprehend the mindframe it takes to get rid of a dog before Christmas to replace it with a puppy. I'd give anything to see him run under the tree, sniff out his present and rip it open again. Dogless now but the same goes for our two cats, it'l be the fourth Christmas without Bunty.

Edit: Third Christmas without him actually, where'd that time go :O

Manach

This is more a comment on the disposable society that throws out the old once it is no longer a la mode when the latest trend arrives. That this happens to dogs though, something wrong with that at a fundamental level.

sillysmiles

I was thinking about this today and the more I think about it, the more I think one way to tackle it, would not to have a dog license system as we have now, to to have a pet owner register and the register etc is more about the person than the pet. I think having more control over who owns dogs would also help with the dangerous dogs act, and make that not breed specific.

cocker5

Good god this is terrible .. would never get a puppy again - I actually love Cody more now that he’s a golden oldie wouldn’t part with him for the world.. if I ever can face getting another dog after Cody leaves us it will be an older dog / golden oldie ... they are amazing dogs

TG1

Zapperzy wrote: »

Coming into our second Christmas without Charlie I honestly cannot comprehend the mindframe it takes to get rid of a dog before Christmas to replace it with a puppy. I'd give anything to see him run under the tree, sniff out his present and rip it open again. Dogless now but the same goes for our two cats, it'l be the fourth Christmas without Bunty.

Edit: Third Christmas without him actually, where'd that time go :O

My first without Bob this year after 14 with him. Did he get in the way when the house was full? Yeah. Did he cause hassle when we wanted to go places? Yes. Did he add extra stress? Yes. Would I give anything to have to put him outside to calm down on Christmas morning so he doesnt trample the presents trying to find his wrapped tennis ball? Yes.

The mind boggles at anyone viewing a dog as disposable... Bob was family, the thought of giving him up would just never have entered my head. How did we get to a place where this is the norm? I just can't wrap my head around it at all. I used to hate leaving Bob in kennels for a weekend, never mind just dumping a dog in the pound because I got a new carpet or something!! Reading that article actually has me seething.

mojesius

I feel guilty if I leave our fella with my mam if we go away for a night. He spent 5 days in the pound as a 9mth old and god knows what life he had before that. It took us nearly a year of training and reassurance to make him trust people fully. He still cowers at sweeping brushes and similar.

How anyone could contemplate driving up to a pound and leaving their dog there to an uncertain fate is beyond me. How could you enjoy Christmas knowing you've just broken your loyal friends heart...

Then again, I don't understand people who get a pup and because they start eating shoes/furniture get banished to the back garden for the rest of their lives, when a bit of basic training and some dog toys would sort it out.

The rescues (and many pounds) in this country do so much to try to stem the tide but the level of overbreeding for profit is too much to keep up with...fuelled by people wanting to buy cavachons, cockapoos and whatever else designer crossbreeds/purebreeds are in fashion at the time. Boils my blood

Bells21

And that is if they make it to the pounds!!
Edit to add, the picture is of an article from a local paper, it has a picture of a deceased dog.

Bells21

Bells21 wrote: »

And that is if they make it to the pounds!!
Edit to add, the picture is of an article from a local paper, it has a picture of a deceased dog.

I can't even begin to tell you how angry that makes me. I almost can't breathe when I see things like that. But I always keep up on animal welfare despite how hard it is to look at these things because I can't bear the idea of burying my head in the sand and just pretending it's not happening.

Bells21

I agree, I think people need to see these pictures to make them see what is actually happening in our country.
I don't like the piece in the article that basically makes out that the owners must've cared in some way as the kennel was kept nice! The dog was abandoned and died!!!!!

Bells21

Bells21 wrote: »

I agree, I think people need to see these pictures to make them see what is actually happening in our country.
I don't like the piece in the article that basically makes out that the owners must've cared in some way as the kennel was kept nice! The dog was abandoned and died!!!!!

Yeah that annoyed me too!

Capercaillie

Vermin. Why would you want to get rid of your loyal friend��. People have no shame....