Dorset animal rescue taking in record number of stray dogs
Margaret Green’s received 300 phone calls in October alone
An animal rescue in Dorset has hit “crisis point” as they took in 35 abandoned dogs just last month.
This year, we there has been a continual rise in the number of dogs arriving as unclaimed strays via the Local Authority.
Lucy Hooper from Margaret Green’s Animal Rescue said: “Giving up a dog is usually a decision that comes with a lot of heartbreak, but sadly we’re seeing an increase in the number of dogs being found as strays and we would put that down to people not being able to afford things in their own lives.”
In October, Margaet Green’s Animal Rescue also received 300 phone calls from dog owners looking to give up their pet.
But the rescue centre is at maximum capacity taking care of stray dogs already, meaning they are unable to take in any dogs from the record 300 owners.
Lucy said: “I can't believe the number of dogs that are being handed over or sadly discarded.
“Lots of these dogs were bought during lockdown and a lot of them are now in their adolescents and are showing behaviours that are difficult to manage at home, so not all of those are being kept.
If you pair that with the cost-of-living crisis and many people experiencing housing issues, it’s clear to see why we’re seeing a high number of dogs come into our care.”
Many of the dogs being cared require special veterinary treatment and improvements to their condition upon arrival.
Additionally, some dogs being handed in are those of very expensive dog breeds because the cost of keeping a dog can be quite high, “It’s not just buying dog food, it’s things like vet bills which can be around £2000 and not many people have that lying around,” Lucy added.