Dog rescue forced to close to new intakes

A Ballivor based dog rescue that has been inundated with surrendered dogs has made the difficult decision to close to new intakes for a few months with owners Ramona Cunningham and Chris Kelly admitting they are exhausted.

Dog Rescue Coolronan had to turn away 11 dogs in one day alone this week as owners looked to surrender dogs, many of which were only got in the past year. Ramona told how they have 38 dogs at the moment and many of these have issues that need to be worked on before they can be offered for rehoming. They will continue to work with these dogs and hope to be in a position to start taking in new dogs again in three or four months.

Announcing the decision on facebook, Ramona wrote: "We have to make the tough decision to close our doors for a few months, the amount of dogs looking to be surrendered that have issues is actually gone beyond a joke at this stage, the dogs we have already promised to help we will get them sorted over the next few weeks but after that we won't be taking on any new dogs.

"To be honest we are completely burnt out we still have so many dogs here that we have to work with before they are ready for rehoming."

They received many messages of support from their followers and Ramona said they are very appreciative of the support.

In the 16 years they have been in operation, Dog Rescue Coolronan has rescued well over 1,000 dogs.

Ramona said everyone wanted a dog during lockdown but many people are finding the reality isn't what they expected.

"So many people got Cockapoos during lockdown, they are wired to the moon and people don't realise that. They also need grooming every 6-8 weeks. They are not for the faint hearted."

While like most rescue organisations, they were bracing themselves for dogs being given up post lockdown, Ramona said they didn't think it would be this bad.

"We have taken in thousands of dogs over the years. In the last year it has been mostly surrenders. It is crazy, it really is. Every rescue in the country knew what was ahead of us but I don't think any of us knew it would be this bad.

"Most of them are covid dogs and come in with issues. Very few that come in can go straight up for rehoming. Many have fear aggression, food aggression, they may have bit someone, they have no socialisation and don't know how to deal with other dogs or strangers."

While some owners will take advice and work with a dog trainer to resolve the issues, Ramona said others don't want the hassle and just want the dog gone.

"So many people got dogs out of boredom during lockdown. The puppy farmers made a fortune in the two years," she said.

At the moment Dog Rescue Coolronan have 38 rescue dogs including 16 pups. Three of the dogs are with them longterm and can't be rehomed.

"The 16 pups are an awful lot of work in themslves and we have dogs with issues so it is not fair taking in more dogs. Every time you take in a new dog, one gets pushed back a bit further. The two of us are exhausted. So we have stopped for new intakes for three or four months. A lot of other rescues are doing the same."

During Covid Ramona said everybody wanted a dog but that "lately calls looking for dogs are few and far between".

They have 16 pups at the moment which they won't have difficulty rehoming once they are ready but the older dogs are much harder to place.

"Everybody wants a pup, but the older ones are left behind. It is very unfair."

Ramona explained that they also work with a rescue in Sweden who have taken many of their dogs over the years and two dogs are due to go there next week- a greyhound and setter. However, she added that they haven't been able to take as many dogs as before, between Covid and Brexit issues.