There are currently some 3,000 dogs homeless in Ireland, a rescue centre has calculated. 

Every year, MADRA Dog Rescue in Galway runs the ‘homeless dogs census’, which counts the number of dogs in rescue centres across the country. 

On Lunchtime Live, MADRA Director Dawn Divilly said there are “too many dogs” being bred at the moment. 

“We’ve done the homeless dogs census for the last couple of years,” she said. 

“On any given day, there are 3,000 dogs in rescues and local authority pounds in Ireland.”

Last week, MADRA was called after a woman found a cardboard box of four puppies dumped at the bottom of her driveway on a busy road. 

The box was “soaking wet” and the puppies were soaked to the bone. 

“If they had been left much longer and she hadn’t found them, they could have easily escaped onto the road,” Ms Divilly said. 

“Thankfully, she did find them and she got them in safe and she gave us a ring.” 

A dog cooling off in the sea in Anglesey. Picture by: Alamy.com.

While shocking, Ms Divilly said this type of scenario is “far too common”. 

“Two days later, we had a call from one of the vets in Galway and they had had a lady come in to them with nine puppies that she had found as well,” she said. 

“It happens so often that… we’re used to dealing with it, unfortunately.

“We’ve got way too much experience in getting that phone call where someone has found a set of abandoned pups beside the road.” 

Unneutered pets

Ms Divilly said one of the reasons for this sad phenomenon is that far too many people do not bother to get their dog spayed or neutered. 

“There’s probably a lack of knowledge out there, without a doubt,” she said. 

“Maybe they get dogs without thinking it through - we know this happens. 

“And they don’t understand the importance of spaying and neutering - maybe they don’t know about spaying and neutering.

“Maybe they know about it but they think it’s too expensive and they can’t afford it - they might not be aware there’s an awful lot of help out there from rescue [centres] like ourselves who can help with that.” 

A Yorkshire terrier dog. Picture by: byAZ3 / Alamy.

Another reason is that a significant number of dogs are bred commercially in Ireland. 

“We have this dreadful title of being the ‘puppy farm capital of Europe’,” Ms Divilly said. 

“Puppies are literally being farmed like farm animals - that’s what’s happening in this country. 

“And they’re being exported; they’re not just supplying the trade in Ireland.” 

For anyone wishing to adopt a dog, MADRA have a rehoming team who can help place a dog with a new family. 

Alternatively, people can visit the DSPCA from Tuesday to Sunday between 12- 4pm without an appointment. 

Main image: A dog pokes his nose through the fence of an animal shelter. Picture by: David Baileys / Alamy Stock Photo