'Disposable income means disposable dogs': Causeway Coast Dog Rescue
A Causeway Coast animal welfare charity is asking the public: “What does disposable income mean to you?”
For most people, it’s the money left over once bills are paid, but according to Causeway Coast Dog Rescue (CCDR), the term ‘disposable income’ takes on a much darker meaning, particularly in the run up to Christmas.
CCDR manager Tara Cunningham said: “In the dog world, it has come to reflect the profits made by unscrupulous breeders who treat dogs not as living beings, but as disposable commodities.”
She says Causeway Coast Dog Rescue believes that dogs should be family members, not products.
"Yet many breeders exploit unregulated gaps in the system, generating undeclared income, often more than £1,000 per pup, by producing as many puppies as possible from mothers kept in cramped, hidden conditions,” she said.
"With no paperwork, no traceability, and no accountability, these puppies become financially and physically disposable. Out of the hundreds of breeders in Northern Ireland, there are only council 52 licenced breeders in the country, and once sold, buyers have little recourse, and black-market activity continues to grow year on year.
"We are stuck in this constant cycle each year, appealing to public and appealing to government to take action to stop the excessive breeding in Northern Ireland.
"We shouldn’t be euthanising healthy dogs just because they are not in the latest trend for rehoming, nor should we be shipping thousands of dogs from Council pounds to GB for rehoming.
"We must manage our own services and take responsibility for ensuring legal and ethical breeders are not selling without declaring their income or disposing of pups to charities just because they no longer wish to feed them and cant them sold.”
Offering seasonal advice, Tara Cunningham added: “Before buying a puppy, especially at Christmas, please consider adopting. Speak to your local rescue centre about your household, lifestyle, and the long-term responsibilities of dog ownership.
"Every dog deserves a chance at a full, healthy life. With real enforcement, responsible ownership, and greater public awareness, we can finally break the cycle of “disposable dogs” in Northern Ireland,” she concluded.