OPINION ON SUNDAY: A dog is for life. Help keep it that way by

On Tuesday Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, will be issuing the results of its Stray Dog Survey 2004.

This year, as in previous years, Northern Ireland is expected to have the highest stray dog destruction figures across the whole of the UK.

Last year's survey revealed that over 11,436 strays were collected by local authorities in the Province and 3,467 of these were destroyed simply because their owners could not be traced or no new homes found for them.

So, what can dog owners do to stop this tremendous waste of life? The answer is simple - be responsible.

Get your dog neutered and microchipped and don't let your dog go out on its own.

Dogs Trust cares for over 11,500 stray and abandoned dogs each year through its network of 15 Rehoming Centres across the United Kingdom.

Our Re-homing Centre in Teeshan Road, Ballymena re-homes hundreds of rescued dogs each year, but we can only do so much and prevention is better than cure.

Dogs Trust has invested over pounds 2.5 million on neutering and microchipping initiatives over the last 12 months.

Many of you will remember The Neuter Boys TV advertisements where the comic duo encouraged people to get their dogs neutered and claimed: "It's Nicer to Neuter".

Hundreds of people took advantage of our Neutering and Microchipping Schemes and you can too.

Anyone receiving means tested benefits or who is a tenant of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive can get their dog neutered for just pounds 10.

Anyone receiving means tested benefits or a pension can also get their dog microchipped for free.

Why get your dog neutered?

As well as removing the risk of unwanted puppies and adding to the stray dog problem, there are also lots of health benefits.

Neutering:

Removes risk of your dog developing certain kinds of cancer, eg testicular and breast cancers

Can reduce aggression and behavioural problems in male dogs Can stop embarrassing behaviour in male dogs

Can prevent male dogs chasing local female dogs and trying to escape at any given opportunity, running across busy roads and even jumping out from high windows

Removes instances of "phantom pregnancies" in bitches

Prevents a bitch coming into season (on heat) twice a year. Each season lasts for about three weeks and with some dogs can be quite messy.

Why get your dog microchipped?

If your dog is allowed to roam around without any form of identification, either a microchip or a collar, he could be presumed to be a stray.

The local dog warden has no way of knowing who the dog belongs to and will take him to the local dog pound.

If no one comes to collect him within five days, he may be lucky and be sent to a rescue centre to be rehomed, however a vast number of stray dogs are destroyed

This is the harsh reality, but you can prevent it!

Microchipping is a simple way to make sure your dog can always be identified.

A tiny chip is inserted under the loose skin at the back of the dog's neck. The microchip carries an identity number.

If your dog should become lost or stolen, anyone finding him can take him to the local dog warden.

When scanned the ID number is matched to an extensive database, which then reveals the dog's name and true address.

Dog and owner can then be happily reunited.

The stray dog problem is solvable but we need the help of Northern Ireland's dog owners to help us.

If you would like to hear more about neutering and microchipping, then please call the Dogs Trust hotline on 028 2563 2820 to find out more.

If you would like to give a new life to a rescue dog, then please do visit our Rehoming Centre in Ballymena or call them on 028 2565 2977.

For more information about the work of Dogs Trust please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk There are hundreds of fundraising ideas and information on dogs and related issues

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