Stray dogs the reality

A typical stray – big, cross bred and untrained.   It was tragic to hear about all the dogs who lost their lives in the fire at a stray dog kennels.   Another kennels (a breeding one this time) has also  burned down over the weekend.  There seems to be a lot of confusion about what happens when a stray is found.  We don’t see them running around the streets as happened in the past.  Now the strays are quickly picked up by the Dog Wardens.  All strays are the responsibility of the Local Authority.  This is the Council where the dog is found and not where the owners or finders live.   All strays must be handed in, a photo is taken and they are checked for a microchip.  Then they are put on the Lost Dogs Register..  Sometimes the finder wants to keep the dog but bear in mind that he isn’t your dog and there may be an owner desperate to have him returned.

Mostly the dog will have been dumped and no one wants him back.  It’s for the Council to decide what is to be done with him when all the checks have been done and the required period of time for the owner to claim, has elapsed.  It’s usually either 7 or 10 days.

A dog handed in will go to the Council’s lost dog kennels – they are paid by the Local Authority to deal with stray dogs.  Kennelling these dogs is a business and the kennels will be paid in full for the dog’s care for either seven or ten days. Although it is lucrative and the Council payments profitable, for an animal shelter the problems outweight the benefits and most sanctuaries  don’t want to take them. Although the payments would be welcome it’s what to do with them after the ten days is up.  If they are not claimed then they either have to be kept to see if they can be re-homed or they have to be destroyed.

If they were young, healthy, friendly and well trained there would not be a problem.  The problem is that most often they are not.  Every day more space has to be made for the next stray broughht in.   Most of the dogs are not strays at all, they are unwanted dogs who have been abandoned.   They may be aggressive, destructive, untrained, chronically ill and have all sorts of issues.   They need veterinary sttention and a long period of rehab.    It’s impossible for most sanctuaries to be able to afford this.   At the end of the council payment time there will be no option but to euthanase..    For those dogs who have little chance of being re-homed, Dr.Death will call and it will be you-you-and you.  It’s the end of the line and a body bag for the unlucky ones.

More stray dog reality tomorrow …..