DUNDEE’S DOG owners seem to be taking greater responsibility for their pets after the city’s Brown Street kennels recorded a 20% drop in the number of pooches rehomed last year.
The kennels found new homes for 110 dogs in 2012, compared with 138 the previous year.
Senior environmental service officer Brian Gilmour said he was pleased the message was getting through to people looking to take on the responsibility of a new pet.
Mr Gilmour said: “A dog is part of the family. It’s not just something you take out for a walk. That’s what people have to look at.
“Once they have a dog from here, it’s for life.
“There are fewer and fewer dogs coming in as the years go by because people are more responsible.
“Also, a lot more dogs are now being neutered or spayed, so we don’t see as many puppies here.
“Some people just want to have a dog without thinking what is involved. It has vet bills. It needs to be fed, cleaned and needs a lot of attention.
“They might find out weeks later that it isn’t working out and they don’t know what to do.
“Years ago, they would just open the door and let the dog out and if it didn’t come back they wouldn’t bother to come here for it.
“Now they are more aware that the kennels are here and if they have a problem, they can bring the dog down.”
Mr Gilmour said the kennels’ screening process for potential owners in the last few years has also made a difference.
He said: “Ten or 15 years ago, if you came in and liked the dog, then you got the dog.
“Now, if people are interested in a dog they see on the website and they are still interested when they come in, we get them to bring in the rest of their family and any other pets to meet the dog.
“Sometimes, we can’t give them the dog.
“For example, they might want an Alsatian but, when they are interviewed, it turns out that they are at work all day, so it doesn’t suit the dog.”
The centre took in a total of 399 dogs last year compared to 448 in 2011.
Mr Gilmour said: “More than two-thirds of the dogs that come in are strays and they will get returned to their owners. Others are handed in by their owners for different reasons.
“You hear about people handing in dogs because of the current financial climate but it’s more likely to be due to a marriage breakup or people realising the dog needs too much exercise.
“One came in today because the dog was too big and she couldn’t cope with it.”
Mr Gilmour said despite a focus on the number of staffordshire bull terriers being handed in to kennels around the country, Brown Street saw all kinds of breeds.
“We found that at the start of last year we had a few staffies, but since then it has been a real mixture,” he said.
City council environment convener Craig Melville said: “We would urge people to have a good think about what the responsibilities are in terms of looking after a dog because it does take up a lot of time and effort.”
gogston@thecourier.co.uk