“We’ve had the same number of requests so far this year as we had for the entirety of 2020.”
There has been a “huge spike” in people giving up their dogs as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, according to Dogs Trust Ireland.
The charity said on Thursday that they are receiving roughly eight requests a day with many dogs struggling as their owners return to work and social gatherings.
Last year saw dog and pet ownership increase as many people looked for companionship during lockdown, however, there has been a surge in people attempting to give up their pets as people begin to go outside more often.
“Unfortunately, we’re seeing a huge spike at the moment, especially since we’ve been emerging from lockdown,” Ciara Byrne, head of communications at Dogs Trust Ireland told Newstalk Breakfast.
“We’ve had the same number of requests so far this year as we had for the entirety of 2020.
“Those are quite astonishing numbers, to say the least.”
Byrne said that dogs “really do struggle” with change, which can lead to behavioural problems, which has been the largest reason why owners have attempted to give up their dogs.
She added that people should look out for “signs”, such as being followed around the house more, going to the toilet indoors, or other forms of destructive behaviours.
“We want to keep dogs in their homes, that’s our main goal.
“It’s about noticing the little things your dog might be doing before they get to the big things.
“Dogs do give you signs, so it’s looking out for the signs and knowing how to cope with them.”
More tips on how to help your dog adapt to life after lockdown are available on the Dogs Trust Ireland website.
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