Dogs Trust receives overwhelming number of requests for help from owners who no longer have enough time for their dog

Dogs Trust, Ireland’s leading dog welfare charity, is highlighting the worrying trend indicating that far too many people appear to be rushing into dog ownership without fully realising the commitment involved. In January alone,  the charity has received over 300 requests from owners looking to relinquish a dog into their care, some of which are believed to be dogs bought at Christmas. This is a worrying 26% increase compared to the same time period last year. 

The increase sadly reflects a bigger trend. Out of the 2,800 surrender requests received by Dogs Trust last year, one fifth (20%)   came from families that no longer had the time to care for their dog, while a further 27% admitted they couldn’t keep their dog due to unwanted behaviours, which could stem from insufficient training.

Ruby, a one-year-old Labrador cross, is one of the dogs who came into the charity's care last year when her owner could sadly no longer keep her due to a change in work commitments, leaving them without enough time to properly care for Ruby. Her owner did the responsible thing by reaching out for help and fortunately, Dogs Trust were able to place Ruby in a loving foster home. Thankfully, it was a happy ending for Ruby, as her foster family decided that they wanted to make it forever.

Dogs Trust is urging potential dog owners to consider all aspects of dog ownership before making the lifelong commitment to a dog, highlighting their “A Dog is For Life” slogan. To help potential future dog owners understand the responsibility of dog ownership, Dogs Trust has launched an interactive online quiz to test “Are You Dog Ready?” which outlines aspects such as the time commitment required, the expenses involved, and the training necessities, to name a few.

Paulina Padlo, Communications Manager, Dogs Trust Ireland advises: “Sadly, we are still being contacted by too many people who have welcomed a dog into their life but unfortunately can no longer care for them. Of course, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances in these cases, but for many, they simply may not have considered how much their life was going to change when they brought their dog home. 

Dogs are social creatures and want to spend time with their families, they also need continuous training for mental stimulation and to help them become well rounded dogs, plus a whole lot of love and care. Our online “Are You Dog Ready?” quiz outlines all the ways in which dogs can bring joy into our lives, as well as setting realistic expectations for future dog owners.”

Dogs Trust is encouraging anyone who is considering welcoming a dog to their family in the near future to take the online quiz via their website DogsTrust.ie/DogReady