The Importance of Responsible Pet Ownership

Taking on the responsibility of any animal is a big commitment and one that must be thought through carefully. An animal should only be brought into the family if you are willing to look after that animal for the duration of its life. Too many dogs in Northern Ireland are sent to pounds as “unwanted pets” by owners when they just can’t be “bothered” with them anymore. Most of these dogs are young and healthy and most of them are put to sleep after 5 days. Others are older and sadly end their days scared, alone and let down by the family they loved.

In 2007, 7892 dogs were killed in pounds in the UK,
Northern Ireland killed 3456 of these dogs or 43.79% of the total UK death toll. Northern Ireland has 2.9% of the total UK population of people.

This is a very irresponsible attitude towards animals. We have long established that animals are living sentient beings so why are so many of us still treating them as inanimate objects that can be disposed of like rubbish when the novelty has worn off?

When you take a dog into your home it is a big responsibility but should be a rewarding one. Dogs are extremely loving and years of enjoyment can be had by both dog and family if the dog is cared for properly. It is important that not only the physical wellbeing of the dog is looked after but also its mental and emotional wellbeing.

As a pet owner you have a “Duty of Care” to that pet. This means that by law you are obligated to meet the animals welfare needs. These needs include;

• That the animal has a suitable environment to live (i.e, dry, clean shelter and adequate space)
  
• It must have a suitable diet (adequate food and a constant source of water)
• The ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns (not to be confined for long periods of time)
• Any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals

5. Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Dogs are sociable companion animals. They like to interact and socialise with people and often other dogs and dogs that have this interaction tend to thrive in such environments much more than dogs that don’t.

Very often “problem” dogs are a product of their environment. The problem lies very often not with the dog but with the dog’s surroundings, its daily routine (or lack of) and the interaction with its owner (or lack of).

Generally dogs do not like being left alone for long periods of time. They get bored, lonely and anxious and can start to display behavioural problems such as constant barking, whining or becoming destructive.
 
Dogs kept confined in back yards who are never allowed in the home to interact with the family and see very little outside the yard from day to day will become unsocialised. This is not good for the dog’s physical or mental wellbeing and very often these dogs will become problematic when they are around people or other dogs so it is important to socialise your dog as much as possible.

Exercising your dog is also extremely important. Dogs need walked at least once a day although the exercise requirements of dogs will vary with age, breed, size and the individual dog’s energy levels. Dogs that have a high energy level will need walked more frequently or for longer periods. If dogs are not exercised adequately they can become stressed, hyper, depressed or sometimes aggressive.

If a dog is kept confined in a yard, not allowed in the home and not exercised it is highly likely that it will become a “problem” dog and not a very happy one at that!     

If you are a dog owner or are thinking of becoming a dog owner please read through our factsheet - click here

PLEASE BE A COMPASSIONATE AND RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER!