Eurovision winner Linda Martin has opened her own dog shelter in Dublin.

The Dublin Dog Hub will house about 20 large dogs.

It will provide services including licensing, microchipping and the adoption and rehousing of dogs.

 

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The 'Why Me' singer said she has long been an advocate for animal rights.

"At the moment... I can take 20 large dogs, an awful lot more if they were small," she said.

"That's me at the moment, but I do hope to expand.

"I've been nuts about animals all my life - always, always.

"I got into rescue and then it just got bigger and bigger.

"I started thinking about the welfare and welfare laws that we have in Ireland".

Inside the new Dublin Dog Hub. Picture by: Alex Rowley/Newstalk

Martin said she blames puppy farmers for the surge in dog surrenders.

"Really and truly I blame the puppy farmers," she said.

"When we all went into lockdown, parents thought: 'Ah the kids are bored, I'll get them a little dog'.

"They paid a vast amount of money to puppy farmers, and maybe the kids didn't really want a dog.

"Then the parents go back to work, and then the dog gets bored and starts to chew the furniture and things like that.

"That's why the surrender happens; so unless you're really serious about it, don't get a dog," she added.

Reporting by: Alex Rowley

Main image: Linda Martin opens the new Dublin Dog Hub. Picture by: Alex Rowley/Newstalk