Since the start of the New Year, Slough’s Animal Warden and stray dogs out of hours collection service has been called out on ten different occasions for stray dogs that have either been callously abandoned or irresponsibly allowed to stray.
Two Slough dogs so far, have been successfully reunited with their owners due to a microchip implant and the other owner coming forward and reporting their dog as missing.
Three of the stray Slough dogs were witnessed by members of the public being purposely and callously abandoned; unfortunately, investigations with the RSPCA have failed to trace the owners.
Five of the ten stray dogs have been found with injuries, in a malnourished condition or suffering from disease. It’s possible their owners could no longer afford to feed and care for the animal, so have dumped them on Slough’s streets or parks.
Slough’s animal warden, Jackie Singer, said the number of stray dogs has risen sharply in the last three weeks and claimant rates have dropped dramatically. She is disgusted with the amount of dogs let down by their owners and either abandoned, dumped or simply not reported as missing.
Jackie said: “We’re committed to ensuring animals in the borough are treated with consideration, kindness and good animal welfare practise. There is no excuse to abandon your pet. There are many local and national animal welfare charities who can offer advice on how to properly care for your pet, support if you are in some sort of trouble and subsidised veterinary care for those on a low income.
“There is help out there. You cannot imagine how scared and confused these animals are when they are found, many with serious health problems.
“For decades now people have been told how animals are for life, and that they should understand the responsibilities that come with them. Yet even today, people choose to ignore that message, take on an animal, and then callously dump them when they realise how much time, effort and money they cost.”
It falls to the local Slough taxpayer to pay for the care of these dogs whilst the animals wait the statutory seven days for owners to come forward and claim them. After this time, the council will hand over the dogs to already full-to-bursting local animal rescue centres to start the re-homing process.
Help is out there for owners of animals that can no longer cope; Slough has many animal welfare charities. If you are finding owning your pet a struggle don’t leave asking for help until the last minute, many animal charities have waiting lists which are weeks or months long.
All Slough animal charities would rather you handed the animal over to them safely than leave him or her to fend for themselves in an uncaring, unsafe, unknown environment.
Contact Slough Animal Warden on 01753 875255 for advise regarding responsible pet ownership.
Slough Borough Council
