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Warning on ‘puppy presents’ |
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Written by Rachael Finucane
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Wednesday, 23 December 2009 |
THE Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has appealed for Limerick people not to give puppies as presents this Christmas, as the recession impacts on animal welfare.
It has launched an appeal to members of the public in Limerick to call for urgent donations to assist its work in protecting animals at risk in Ireland.
The charity has recorded an increase of 45% in calls to its national animal cruelty helpline to the end of November 2009—compared to the same period last year.
Barbara Bent, ISPCA chairperson, said that “these figures clearly demonstrate the effect of the recession on the plight of animals in Ireland”.
“From March onwards, we noted a sharp rise in the number of calls to our helpline and this trend has continued throughout the year, in particular relating to cruelty, neglect and abandonment of horses. We are calling on people to make a donation to the ISPCA or purchase one of our thoughtful gifts this Christmas,” she said.
The ISPCA has also warned people about the unsuitability of giving a puppy as a gift this Christmas.
“Christmas is simply not the best time of year to introduce a puppy to your household. The shorter evenings and bad weather in December and January, coupled with the fact that children are back at school shortly after the arrival of the puppy, mean that families don’t have sufficient time to train and bond with their new pet. We recommend that May is the best month to get a puppy, so that there’s plenty of time to establish a routine over the summer months,” she added.
“It’s a common misconception that our busiest time is after Christmas, when puppies are abandoned by their new owners. animal welfare organisations across Ireland are finding the run up to the festive period just as busy, because people abandon their older dogs to be replaced with a new puppy as a Christmas present.”
The ISPCA urgently needs donations and these can be made at www.ispca.ie.
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