ISPCA Christmas message: ‘It’s not fair to buy puppies just to throw them away when bored’

Many of the pups that are bred illegally are raised in switched-off chest freezers and separated from their mothers as early as five weeks after they are born.

“An Xbox can be unplugged and put away, but you can’t unplug a puppy,” ­said Catriona Lowry, who runs Hilltop Sanctuary for abandoned, surrendered and abused animals in east Clare.

“I used to say ‘Adopt, don’t shop’, but now I ask them why they need a new pet in the first place, especially coming up to Christmas when you know it can be crazy in our houses. Think about the baby animal away from their mammy for the first time – can you imagine how needy that little thing is?

There’s a lot of spontaneity and not thinking things through

“It’s not fair to buy them just to throw them away when you are bored of it.

“We are coming up to a time of year where it’s all about buying presents, there’s a lot of spontaneity and not ­thinking things through. This goes on right up to Christmas Eve.

“There are a lot of very bad people who use this as a chance to make money. People who breed young animals illegally in their backyards or sheds take advantage of your rash decisions.”

There are unscrupulous breeders who cater for the Christmas market

The ISPCA is urging people to reconsider buying pets as Christmas gifts on a whim or to be given as a surprise.

“There are unscrupulous breeders who cater for the Christmas market, so people need to beware,” an ISPCA spokesperson said. “Taking on a pet is a long-term commitment that can affect your life for the next 15 years, so it is important to ensure you have adequate time and financial resources to care for your pet responsibly.

“What a new pet really needs is a ­quiet, calm, safe home where routines can be established to get everyone off to a good start. The Christmas festive season is really not the best time to get a new pet.

“It is not the case that on Stephen’s Day we see an influx of unwanted pets being abandoned. However, we do see a problem later in the spring and summer months when pet owners plan to go on holiday and realise they need to pay kennelling fees.

“At this stage, puppies are growing fast and may have lost the ‘puppy ­appeal’ due to the lack of training and socialisation.”

This year, the ISPCA reported that an “unprecedented number” of pets, ­particularly dogs, had been abandoned and rescued across the country.

Between January and the end of August, 724 dogs were surrendered and rescued.

From January to October, Dogs Trust reported that nearly 3,500 people contacted them to relinquish their dog – the highest number since its centre in Dublin 11 was opened in 2009.

Animal rescuers around Ireland are overwhelmed with the influx of new animals coming in and are running out of space.

Martina Kenny, co-founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue in Dublin – an organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes horses, donkeys, mules, dogs, goats and pigs – has found that, each Christmas season, parents try to buy an animal that is “trending”, without considering the implications.

There’s no such thing as a teacup pig – they are pot-bellied pigs who are underfed

“There are still people who want to buy the latest animal that’s ‘trending’ for their children.

“If they want a French bulldog that they saw on TV, they forget all about ‘Adopt, don’t shop’. They’re not doing any research into where or who they’re buying them from,” Ms Kenny said.

“At one point, teacup pigs were all the rage. There’s no such thing as a teacup pig – they are pot-bellied pigs who are underfed to stop them growing and advertised as a lie.

“People were buying them off horrible sites – they were buying babies only a few days old. Just educate yourself – if you live in the city, do you think you can take care of that pig which will undoubtedly grow into an adult?”

John O’ Callaghan, who runs Dog Advocacy Ireland, said people needed to consider owning a puppy as a long-term commitment: “It’s a privilege to own a dog and to have a companion.

“You need to allow them to behave naturally – they need exercise, walks in the park and to sniff grass.

“They also need trips to the vet, ­vaccinations and medication from time to time – these can be expensive.

“Think of the size of our country, now think about all the puppy farms churning out puppies because there’s a market.

She was probably once loved but when the kids grow up, what happens to the poor pony?

“People always say it’s a terrible way we are treating animals in this country without realising that what’s contributing to the crisis is people lining the pockets of people who will keep breeding animals in terrible environments. We need to kill the market.”

Ms Lowry said that the dog crisis was more visible, but at Hilltop Sanctuary and many others like it, young animals of all species were rescued once they lose their appeal.

She said: “A lot of children ask for ponies during Christmas. I was involved in a rescue with this tiny, beautiful pony found emaciated and dumped in a bog.

“She was probably once loved but when the kids grow up, what happens to the poor pony? A lot of them are sold to fairs where they’re neglected.

“All the miniature pets and young animals that we take in here all once knew a home, until they were just disposed of. Most people wouldn’t give up their children because they are bored of them.

“When you are signing up to adopt a pet, it should be the same.

“And if you’re going to buy a puppy, don’t bloody buy a puppy during Christmas time.” ​

If you and your family have made a well-thought-out decision to adopt an animal, the ISPCA recommends ­visiting your local rescue centre for advice, or the ISPCA for a suitable match.

See www.ispca.ie for more details.