Parents urged against buying Christmas pets
Parents have been warned about buying pets as Christmas presents after figures released today showed almost 18,000 unwanted dogs were put down by local authorities last year.
The figures were given to Fine Gael TD Micheal Ring by Environment Minister Dick Roche in response to parliamentary questions.
In total, 17,695 dogs were put down by local authorities last year, the data shows.
Up to 1,401 dogs were destroyed in Co Clare in 2003, 1,403 in Co Kerry, while a total of 1,928 were put down in Limerick city and county.
This compares to 88 in Co Leitrim, 95 in Co Kilkenny and 661 in Galway city and county.
In Dublin city and county 1,971 dogs were destroyed, compared to 1,153 in Cork city and county.
Mr Ring said parents should realise that buying pets just for Christmas “may be effectively sentencing them to death”.
He added: “The best solution to this tragic issue is for people to not buy pets they cannot care for in the first place.
“It is clear that Ireland currently does not have enough animal shelters to house impounded strays until good homes can be found for them instead of being put down.
“I am urging all parents who are considering buying pets for their children this Christmas to realise what the fate of the animals will be if it turns out that keeping them doesn’t suit.”
