One stray dog impounded every hour

One stray dog impounded every hour

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wednesday, November 18 07:39 am

A stray dog is impounded by local councils every hour in Northern Ireland. Skip related content
Last year alone 3,192 animals were put to sleep - more than Wales and Scotland combined, Ian Paisley Jnr said.

Puppy breeders told a meeting of the agriculture committee of MLAs at Stormont a registration scheme was needed to make it easier to trace dogs.

Mr Paisley said: "One stray every hour a year are pretty appalling figures for a community which claims to love its pets."

Aside from the welfare implications he said the taxpayer was bearing the burden.

"There is a huge issue of cost to the ratepayer in terms of controlling animals," he added.

In 2007 there were 8,767 dogs impounded, equal to one every hour, the agriculture committee chairman said.

Michael McKay, chairman of the Canine Breeders of Ireland, said proper registration of animals was the answer.

"The vast majority of people would register into the system. The dog population would have traceability so when a stray is picked up it would immediately go back to its owner. 95% of the problem would be fixed immediately."

He said puppy breeders had unfairly attracted a poor reputation through trial by media following recent scandals where dogs were not properly looked after. Mr McKay said they stood to make around £1,000 for a properly looked after puppy and there was no incentive to mistreat it.