Animal shelter struggles as credit crunch bites
An animal shelter is so full of unwanted dogs and cats from Christmas that it is now turning away pets.
Teckels Animal Sanctuary in Whitminster is bursting at the seams with abandoned animals as the credit crunch bites.
-
Charlie, one of the pets hoping to find a home
Teckels animal welfare officer Julia Winters said: "We have had quite a lot of requests for people wanting to re-home dogs over Christmas.
"Some people seem to think they don't want their dogs over Christmas because they want a bit of peace and quiet. The problem at the moment is that we are full."
Teckels is currently keeping strays in kennels normally reserved for boarding dogs. And these boarding kennels help pay for the upkeep of Teckels.
Normally, 10 kennels are set aside for unwanted or runaway dogs but Teckels has about 20 at the moment.
Teckels boss Joan Barrett, said: "We are losing money."
She said some owners hand in dogs because they say they can't afford the food.
"But when I offer them free food, they make up another excuse," she said. "The credit crunch is having an effect – we have a dog here who is like a skeleton. He was found on the A38.
"We can't sign him over to us yet as the owner can come forward within a week to claim him but I would be surprised if they did."
She said some owners work the law to their advantage too. Knowing that Teckels can only take a dog on after seven days without it being claimed, some turn up after six days and take their dog home, after it has had six days' free board and lodging.
The centre, which is also home to 17 stray cats, is today appealing for your help. It needs more blankets, food and cash donations to help pay for the centre's upkeep.
Julia added that dog owners should also take into account the costs of leaving their pets at Teckels.
"A big bag of dog food is £15 to £20 a month, and insurance about £10 a month, plus costs for flea and worming treatments," she said. "The insurance sometimes only covers part of the cost of the treatment and in some cases you have to pay up front and claim it back, which can be a big cost to bear if it's unexpected."
She said Teckels' veterinary bill is between £4,000 and £6,500 a month, and monthly running costs amount to £14,000. It is a charity and relies on donations and income from its boarding kennels.
The RSPCA's Hope Farm in Gloucestershire is also struggling with high numbers of animals.
A spokeswoman said the charity had seen a small increase in calls from pet owners worried about the effects of the credit crunch.
She said: "What we would say is that pet owners should be responsible and they need to prepare themselves for the unforeseen, whether it is their animals becoming poorly, having an accident or a change in personal circumstances. "They are now legally obliged to meet their pets' needs."
12 Comments
View all
by Les Frater, Glasgow
Sunday, November 01 2009, 8:54AM
“Hi,
do you know how many animal shelters are closing because of the recession/credit crunch?
And also where in the UK has been hit the hardest?
Would you have any names of businesses that have closed or near closure?”
by ex staff member, glos
Friday, January 09 2009, 11:59AM
“having worked at teckels for over six years i have to say what a fantastic job the staff and volunteers do, particulally joan and em. They all work very hard and are under alot of pressure! so please give them a break..it is one of the hardest jobs imaginable if you are an animal lover such as myself. Seeing all those homeless animals in need of a place to call their own is heartbreaking and you just want to take them all home and some of the ridiculous 'excuses' people have for wanting to rehome their dogs just angers me!
If people would just stop breeding just to make a few bob then we wouldn't have so many unwanted and abandoned dogs! Spaying and castration should be mandatory!
As for not being able to just 'drop in' and look around Teckels...this is put in place for a number of reasons.
Having strangers walking around 'gawping' and children most probably teasing and poking fingers through the kennels bars can be very distressing for the dogs. The way an animal behaves in a kennel is in no way a reflection on howw they will behave in a home environment.
For instance my ex teckels collie is a complete nutter at the kennels but is very calm at home, so this is not the bes way to view a potential new dog as you would be put off by the way some of the dogs can behave in the kennel, but once thay are out of the kennel and calmed down then that is the best time to see the dog, so that is why teckels operate this way and people that get annoyed by this procedure clearly aren't all that bothered about rehoming a dog!
The reason other 'large' rescue centres allow prospective owners to walk around to see the dogs is because that is what they are'rescue centres' they have hundreds of kennels purely for homeless dogs where as Teckels have around ten! You couldn't allow members of the public to wander around teckels as they have a number of boarding doggies there on their holidays.
Please please give these guys a break, they all work so hard and at the end of the day the animals wellbeing is what matters and that is what they always put first! Anyone who is a genuine animal lover please donate some time and volunteer down at the centre and you will see just how devoted everyone is and how lovely the animals really are!! ex-staff member, glos, g”
by marley, gloucester
Sunday, January 04 2009, 7:23PM
“some of these comments are really just sad. how can you justify leaving a dog alone at home all day while you are at work? no wonder they wouldnt rehome a dog with you. how would you feel about being left in a room with nothing to do for 8 hours a day? at least at the kennel they are walked, cuddled and loved 24/7.”
by julie, glos
Sunday, January 04 2009, 1:23AM
“i agree im afraid about some of the staff"s attitude, i tried to offer a fantastic home to a poor homeless dog years ago, and i received just negative feedback. every dog i expressed an interest in they just said"hes reserved" i left there feeling really disheartened and as though i was a inexperienced dog owner. i drove straight to cheltenham animal shelter and they were absolutely wonderful. they welcomed me with open arms and i was allowed to take home a lovely collie x who had been badly beaten and starved. i had him till he was 15 and he had a wonderful life with me... when i later enquired about a pyreanean mountain dog that had been brought in i was told "hes gone he needed an experienced home" well i was an experienced owner, onl;y they didnt give me any encouragement to tell them. im sorry but they do treat you as if you know nothing about dogs and they know everything.. well ive had dogs for 30years now so i think i do know a bit by now......”
by anon, gloucs
Wednesday, December 31 2008, 9:49AM
“well i was the second comment just like to say my husband took 2 sacks of food to teckles and it was very well recived they were very grateful for the food they have , i have dogs and i can assure you id go without before any of my dogs would be fed or looked after they are treated the same as my children loved the same etc if they need the vets they are taken they are given exercise disalpin and afection in true dog whisperer fashin”