Anyone who is feeling overwhelmed after taking a dog into their home during 2020 is being urged to contact Dog’s Trust.

The animal charity said the rise in working from home and the extra free time has led to a significant increase in people bringing dogs into their lives.

Unfortunately, many people may not have considered how big a responsibility it is to care for an animal and Dog’s Trust is warning that there is still a high number of dogs ending up in Irish dog pounds in Ireland.

The charity said just under 400 were put down last year.

For The Hard Shoulder this evening, Newstalk reporter Henry McKean took a trip out to the Dogs Trust headquarters in Dublin to meet some of the pups waiting on their forever home.

Dog’s Trust spokesperson Karina Fitzsimons told Henry that getting a dog is a “huge responsibility” at any stage of your life.

“You have to think about what happens if I am going on holidays, if I am going back to the office and I am not working from home,” she said. “Veterinary bills, fleaing, worming your dog, microchipping, vaccinations, dog licence, bedding, toys – there are so many different things you have to consider so it is not just the initial cost of getting a dog.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people will rush in, see a dog online and say, I am just going to pay X amount for that dog and the dog is then mine. They don’t think further along the line about what that entails.”

A resident at the Dog's Trust centre in Dublin, 04-01-2021. Image: Henry McKean

She said anyone who is feeling overwhelmed after getting a dog over the past 12 months should contact Dog’s Trust – where they can talk to the experts and even take part in online dog skills classes.

If you are having a bigger issue, the charity will work to find the dog a new home.

“We have so many people at the moment who are wanting to adopt dogs from us and we will make sure the dog goes to a good home,” she said.

“So, what we want people to do is please contact us. Don’t feel overwhelmed, please don’t sell the dog on again – unfortunately we are seeing people who have spent a few thousand Euro on a puppy, it hasn’t worked out and they want to recuperate what they consider their loss.

“That can have such a detrimental effect on a puppy’s wellbeing, their behaviour and just the rest of their lives so we would implore you to please contact us if you are struggling.”

A resident at the Dog's Trust centre in Dublin, 04-01-2021. Image: Henry McKean

Meanwhile, Gail Richardson from Finglas told Henry that adopting a dog form the centre is a “bit like online dating.”

“You kind of have a look at the website and the profiles and if there is a dog there that you are interested in or fits your description or whatever, you can come up and meet them, see how you get on and come back and build up the relationship,” she said.

“You need to think very carefully. It is a huge commitment. Other family members have dogs and I know it is a going to be a big commitment for me.

“I have seen it in family members, the dog is a part of the family and having had dogs previously, when they passed away it is a huge loss. That is how much they mean to the family.”

A resident at the Dog's Trust centre in Dublin, 04-01-2021. Image: Henry McKean

Ms Fitzsimons said 2020 also brought a lot of good news for dogs – with some of the centre’s longest residents finally finding a home.

“One in particular, Oscar, had been with us for over eight years,” she said.

“He was our longest resident and he found a home with a man who had previously adopted a long-term dog, his name is Brian and he is our hero.

“Then we had Porky, a four-year-old Pitbull who was actually born on site and lived his whole life here because he was quite a boisterous boy. We did wonder at one stage whether we would ever find him a home.

“Then two fantastic people came up here and 35 times they visited. Just before the first lockdown hit, Porky was officially adopted and he spent his first Christmas at home with his new family.”

You can listen back to Henry’s report in full here: