Press Release

Council announce Free Dogs Health Check

Tuesday 9th October 2007

Building on the success of last year’s campaign, in which over 500 dogs received a Free Health Check, Derry City Council is engaging in another joint initiative with the Dogs Trust for all dogs throughout the Council area.

Explaining details of the programme, Enda Cummins, Senior Environmental Health Officer with Derry City Council said,

“Derry City Council takes an active role in engaging with programmes that promote responsible dog ownerships.

“Dog owners are encouraged to avail of this offer to give their dogs a free MOT. At the Health Check, all dogs can enjoy a veterinary check up, a full set of vaccinations, neutering, worming and flea treatment, plus a microchip, all absolutely free of charge. The offer is only valid as a complete package including neutering.”

Chair of the Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn welcomed the health check scheme.

“We have been working closely with the Dogs Trust for a number of years on various projects including school and community presentations, as well as offering free health checks for all dogs reclaimed or re-homed from the Council Dog Shelter.”

“This is a positive 4-month initiative for the Council area, which will be strongly promoted in areas where there are particular problems with unwanted dogs, dogs straying and fouling. I would urge as many dog owners as possible to avail of this programme.”

Derry City Council are also using the initiative to urge dog owners to consider visiting the Dog Shelter in Pennyburn in the first instance when acquiring a dog, to encourage the rehoming of healthy dogs.

Derry City Council’s Dog Warden Michael Duddy explained,

“Each year we are faced with the unenviable task of humanely destroying healthy dogs that simply need a responsible owner.

“Dog Wardens endeavour to match up a dog that is suitable for each person, taking into consideration if there are children or other family pets in the home, and whether the dog requires lots of exercise etc. In instances where a suitable dog can’t be found the dog warden can keep a record of that person’s details and contact them when such a dog comes into the dog shelter.

“We are committed to tackling the serious problem of stray and unwanted dogs coming into the Dog Shelter and believe that neutering offers the best long-term solution to achieving this. Besides reducing unwanted litters and lowering the number of stray dogs, neutering is also important for the health and wellbeing of your pet.”

The scheme will run until the end of January 2008. In order to benefit from the Free Health Check for dogs offer, simply contact the Dogs Trust on 07925 290 499 to book an appointment where you will be provided with details of all the local participating vets.

For information and advice on responsible dog ownership contact the Derry City Council Dog Wardens on (028) 7136 5151 or the Council Dog Shelter, (028) 7126 1414.

Ends

Notes to Editor

Free Health Check

The free Health Check scheme has been set up by the Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, as part of its commitment to reducing the number of stray dogs. According to a Dogs Trust survey, around 11,000 stray dogs are collected in Northern Ireland each year, of which around 4,000 are put to sleep by local authorities as their owner could not be traced or a new owner could not be found. While local authorities make every effort to reunite stray dogs with their owners, take dogs to rescue shelters, or find new homes, dogs are still being destroyed for want of a home.

Neutering
Derry City Council, along with the Dogs Trust, believes that neutering is the most humane way of controlling the stray population in the long term.

Unneutered male dogs may fight with other dogs when a bitch (female dog) in heat is near and can also suffer from testicular cancer. Females are at risk from infections of the womb and mammary tumours if left unneutered. Female dogs also suffer unwanted attention from male dogs that are often bigger than them

ENDS

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Press Office

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