Remove 'Owner Reclaim Only' Rule For All Pound Dogs.

Suzy was one of many dogs labelled 'owner reclaim only' in the dog pounds in Ireland. These dogs are found as strays or are surrenders and given this status with no real assessment. It means their owners have just 5 days to find them if they are lost, or no days at all as a surrender before they are killed in the pound. They will not be offered for rehome or rescue. The pound will quote temperament issues or breed restriction to justify the 'owner reclaim only' status. Any dog will show signs of stress in a pound environment, strange noises and smells. They have probably been lost for a while, hungry and scared, already terrified and made worse by the pound environment.

We want the pounds to allow the rescues to assess the dogs fairly bringing in an animal behaviourist if needed and breed specific rescues who are experts in certain breeds. We need the pounds to give the dogs time to be assessed properly and released to a rescue prepared to take them and work with them. We want every dog in every pound to have this chance so they get a fair and unbiased assessment and a chance of going to a rescue.

Suzy was not given that chance. Rest in Peace Suzy.