Why?
 A yorkshireterrier in the food bowl, the only dry place on the freezing concrete floor |
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| Ireland and Scotland are quite similar countries in terms of their natural environment and number of inhabitants. Unfortunately however there is one big difference; in Scotland in 2007 there was 365 healthy dogs put to sleep for one reason or another but in Ireland there was 12,500 in the same year!!. Sadly it has been this way for decades, 35 dogs today, 35 yesterday and 35 tomorrow... |
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| About 70% of these dogs are either Greyhounds or one of various Collie breeds and the remainder is other mixed breeds. These otherwise normal and healthy dogs have usually had a home until the owner got tired of them and simply put the dog out on the street, often as young as 6 months old. The reasons to send the dogs out on the street, to the cold and the traffic are many; perhaps the kids in the family wanted a new puppy when the old dog wasn’t as much fun to play with anymore. However, regardless of the excuse, the ultimate cause of this response is a lack of empathy and understanding on the part of the owners. The homeless dogs that are not run over or killed on the street are treated with total disregard by humans. In most cases, they are picked up by the Dog Warden and taken to the nearest Dog Pound. Here they are locked up for their last 5 days alive in cold and small concrete kennels without heat, blankets or water. Many of the puppies have no chance of surviving in these conditions. If, after 5 days, the owners or one of the few but fantastic dog-rescue organizations haven’t picked up the dogs, they will be put to sleep. The amount of dogs we are able to bring over from Ireland and place in new homes is still only a drop in the ocean. The biggest problem is the lack of effort to prevent new unwanted litters by castration or neutering. Our goal for www.thepalace.se is set up a surgery for castration and neutering and to also provide a warm, hearty, safe place for unwanted dogs. We want it to be a used as a foster home, providing the necessary food and care until a new home can be found for the dog. We want simply to give these dogs a second chance for a long and healthy life that they deserve. If we get the castration and neutering project up and running, if we can begin to change the attitude towards dogs in Ireland and if we get all of Europe to realize that they don’t have to wait for a new litter of puppies to be born to find a sweet four-footed family member, then we are half-way towards our goal. Of course we are aware that there are other problems and needs in Ireland as in many parts of Europe right now, many of which may be viewed as more urgent but the aim for all of us must be to change what we can, when we can, even if it’s little by little! Please, join us and help build The Palace! Anna and Martin and Hundar Utan Hem |