Britain’s unwanted pets
Detail:
Tonight’s Panorama, Britain’s Unwanted Pets, investigates the increase in stray and unwanted dogs in rescue centres. Many are Staffordshire bull terrier types, the result of Britain’s gang culture and the despicable trend for attack and fighting dogs.
One out of four dogs taken in by the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home last year had to be put down because they were too aggressive and dangerous to be rehomed. That’s 1,931 dogs.
Experts said many dogs had become so aggressive that their owners could not control them any more, and the dogs were simply abandoned. Others swapped their dog for an MP3 player.
Scott Craddock, director of operations at the home, tells the programme: “In 1996 we took 396 Staffordshire bull terriers. Last year we took 3,600. For us that’s a huge problem – we can’t actually kennel these dogs with other dogs in many cases. They have to be given an individual kennel. So that has a huge impact on kennel space at the home.
“Battersea is mopping up a lot of the problems that are happening outside of the home. Big society problems; to such an extent that we feel it is time to say enough is enough,” he added.
This is an absolutely disgusting state of affairs, and the sooner the authorities can get a handle on the problem, the better. A friend who lives in London has already identified certain places as ‘No Go Areas’ for walks with her dog.
Yes, the Government is currently considering a number of measures to curb the rise in irresponsible dog ownership. Microchipping is apparently a high favourite. Will this work? I personally don’t see how. Thugs who breed and train these dogs for aggressive fighting and training are not going to dutifully queue up to get their Staffie microchipped. And it’s not as if all these Staffies are coming from one or two puppy mills that can be closed down overnight.
More manpower on the streets to deal with the situation? That would be nice, but in light of public spending cuts, I don’t see how this is going to happen.
We’ll just have to wait and see. My gut instinct says the situation will improve only when these gangs in the main turn their attention to something else and a new trend materialises. I just hope that in this instance, my gut instinct is proved wrong.
Panorama: Britain’s Unwanted Pets will be broadcast tonight at 8.30pm on BBC One.
One out of four dogs taken in by the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home last year had to be put down because they were too aggressive and dangerous to be rehomed. That’s 1,931 dogs.
Experts said many dogs had become so aggressive that their owners could not control them any more, and the dogs were simply abandoned. Others swapped their dog for an MP3 player.
Scott Craddock, director of operations at the home, tells the programme: “In 1996 we took 396 Staffordshire bull terriers. Last year we took 3,600. For us that’s a huge problem – we can’t actually kennel these dogs with other dogs in many cases. They have to be given an individual kennel. So that has a huge impact on kennel space at the home.
“Battersea is mopping up a lot of the problems that are happening outside of the home. Big society problems; to such an extent that we feel it is time to say enough is enough,” he added.
This is an absolutely disgusting state of affairs, and the sooner the authorities can get a handle on the problem, the better. A friend who lives in London has already identified certain places as ‘No Go Areas’ for walks with her dog.
Yes, the Government is currently considering a number of measures to curb the rise in irresponsible dog ownership. Microchipping is apparently a high favourite. Will this work? I personally don’t see how. Thugs who breed and train these dogs for aggressive fighting and training are not going to dutifully queue up to get their Staffie microchipped. And it’s not as if all these Staffies are coming from one or two puppy mills that can be closed down overnight.
More manpower on the streets to deal with the situation? That would be nice, but in light of public spending cuts, I don’t see how this is going to happen.
We’ll just have to wait and see. My gut instinct says the situation will improve only when these gangs in the main turn their attention to something else and a new trend materialises. I just hope that in this instance, my gut instinct is proved wrong.
Panorama: Britain’s Unwanted Pets will be broadcast tonight at 8.30pm on BBC One.
By:
Sandra
Date/time :
02/08/2010
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