CSPCA shelter at full capacity
The Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) is facing into a challenging Christmas as their dog shelter is at full capacity.
The centre is situated in Mahon, and currently houses 45 dogs. Manager of the CSPCA Vincent Cashman told the Cork Independent that due to an increase in surrendered animals, the CSPCA won't be able to accept additional ones until the existing dogs secure homes.
“We're getting an awful lot of dogs being dumped. There are dogs coming in that are not being reclaimed, or their owner just can't take them back,” he said. “Adoptions are particularly slow this time of the year. Unfortunately, we can't take in any more dogs until we get what we have adopted. We have to turn surrendered dogs away until we have space to take them in. You can help some, but you can’t help them all,” he added.
Vincent says that there has been an increase in the CSPCA centre reaching full capacity since the Covid-19 pandemic, when people across the country bought puppies to keep them company during lockdown.
“This tends to happen once or twice a year, but particularly since Covid. The problem is that you are getting people who are still breeding far too many puppies and also those who put no thought into getting dogs,” he said.
Vincent highlighted that while many people are responsible dog owners, a disconcerting number treat their pets as disposable.
“There are people who get new carpets and they decide to get rid of the dog. Or if they have two dogs, they surrender the older one that they've had in the house for years. Some of the reasons we hear are ridiculous,” he said.
However Vincent did note a positive shift in the trend for buying puppies at Christmas, and says that there is a decrease in the numbers of surrendered dogs they see in the post-Christmas period.
“It has changed in the past 15 years. If you ask a child what they want for Christmas, an iPhone or a puppy, they will tell you an iPhone. There’s less, but you will get a certain amount. It’s when the dog redesigns the inside of the house or creates a nuisance that some people decide to get rid of them,” he said.
For those considering buying a dog, Vincent urged them to think very carefully about their decision which can be a decade long commitment.
He also called on Corkonians to ‘adopt don’t shop’. “If they are getting a dog, preferably adopt a dog from a shelter. Then they know are vaccinated, microchipped, registered, neutered and they are not feeding into the problem,” he said.
Of course not every dog at the CSPCA finds their forever home quickly. KitKat is the longest resident of the centre, and has been in their care since June. The adorable pooch has been overlooked for months while other dogs get adopted.
“She’s an American Bulldog cross, she was a stray who was found on Paul St, she is such a lovely dog but she has been here a very long time,” says Katie O’Keefe of the CSPCA.
Katie says that possible reasons why KitKat hasn’t found her forever home is due to her large size; she’s 30kg and many people with city gardens may not feel that they have the space for her.
KitKat is described as being “bouncy for five minutes, then she looks for cuddles and rubs, and will make a fantastic family addition.” KitKat is available for adoption now.