Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has adopted a dog (or more) from rescue. Thank you.
Along with giving your new dog a wonderful forever home, you have also likely freed up a space so that at some point the rescue can take in another dog in need. A dog who might otherwise have died.
I’ve just been skimming through the Dogs Trust Stray Dog Survey 2013. It doesn’t make for happy reading …
“From this figure we can estimate that approximately 8,985 dogs were put to sleep across the UK during the period of 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013.”
I understand that some of those dogs would have been considered not rehomable, for various reasons (although in an ideal world, some of those with behavioural issues could perhaps have been rehabilitated), but for thousands more, they just didn’t get the second chance that our rescue dogs did
Nearly nine thousand dogs is a horrific number, isn’t it? I really want to try to find a positive way forward from this though – and when you consider the UK population and the number of dog lovers within it, if we could just change the minds of a few more thousand people when it comes to getting their next dog, we could easily reduce that number. Couldn’t we? Do not pity a rescue dog. Adopt one.
It’s not an inconceivable thought for me, that the PTS (put to sleep) figure could be dramatically reduced, pretty quickly, if more people would consider adopting their next dog from rescue.
I can’t imagine ever buying a dog when I know thousands are dying each year. I know several of my own rescue dogs have very narrowly avoided adding to these statistics. I really hope that others will find their next dog in rescue. There are a multitude of dogs of wonderful breeds and mixes, ages, sizes and energy levels, out there, waiting for their forever home.
Scroll to the bottom of my blog and you will see some links, but there are plenty of other reputable rescues out there too. Rescues who will work with you to make sure the dog you adopt is suitable for you – and vice versa. Rescues who will provide life-time back for the dog, meaning they will always take the dog back, should you find yourself unable to keep your dog at any point in the future.
I haven’t read through the whole survey pdf yet. If you want to read it, you can find it by clicking here. Please note that the statistics are compiled by the Dogs Trust, using information collected from local authorities.
I’ve taken the rescue dog pledge – I made that commitment many years ago, when I first found out just how many dogs were waiting for a good home and how many were never given the chance. Will you take the pledge too? Please show your support with a “like”, a share, a tweet or by leaving a comment under this post. Click on the pledge logo below to pledge your commitment to adopting your next dog from rescue. I know many of those reading this will have already made a personal pledge anyway. Thank you
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