Warning over unwanted dogs being abandoned

Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District Cllr Séamie Morris has warned of unwanted dogs being abandoned by their owners in the locality.

“A lot of people got dogs during the lockdown,” he said at a recent district meeting. “Unfortunately, I expect a lot of dumping of dogs over the coming months.”

Cllr Morris said people have less time for dogs after returning to full-time work and with their children back at school. He said this would put more pressure on voluntary services such as the Mo Chara animal rescue and more dogs being impounded by the council. He sought updated figures on the number of dogs being taken in by the council, those that are rehomed and those that are put down.

Senior Executive Officer Marion O'Neill said very few dogs are available at present and the numbers on the council's system have “fallen dramatically”. She said the council is working closely with Mo Chara on rehoming dogs and the voluntary group is posting photos of animals in need of new homes on its website.