Sunday 31 August 2014

Doggy Detectives Descend on Dogs Trust!

On Saturday 24th August the Dogs Trust Education Team held our first 'Doggy Detectives' event at our Rehoming Centre in Finglas.  It was a hugely successful event with 51 people in attendance!
 

 
Our intrepid Inspectors started the day by finding out all about Dogs Trust and the work we do rehoming over 1000 dogs a year.  This was followed by the participants learning how to be safe around dogs - skills they got to put into practice when they met Education Dog Jake!
 

 
Our budding Sherlock Bones' then got a behind-the-scenes tour of Dogs Trust, solving clues along the way in a fun quiz to help them become real Doggy Detectives.
 

 
 
 
Afterwards everyone settled down to watch the Inspector Paws DVD - along with plenty of popcorn and goody bags galore of course!  A fantastic family day out was had by all.  Be sure to keep your eye on this blog and the Dogs Trust Ireland Facebook page for details of future events run by the Education Team. 
 


Thursday 21 August 2014

When Dogs Go A-Stray

Education Dog Jake is feeling very confused.  His owner, Fiona, takes him for two lovely walks every day and puts him on a lead to keep him safe.  Jake would hate to get lost or have an accident on the road!  However, Jake has noticed that sometimes there are dogs out wandering by themselves.  Who are these dogs?  Where are there owners?  Are they lost and lonely?
 
A dog that is on his or her public place without an owner is known as a 'stray' dog.  A stray dog may be lost, abandoned or even have been stolen.  Don't forget, a dog is also classed as stray if their owner lets them roam the streets on their own!  Stray dogs may be picked up by the dog warden and brought to the local dog pound, where they will stay for 5 days to see if their owner comes to reclaim them - the pound is the first place you should check if you ever lose your own dog.
 
 
But what if, like Jake, you come across a stray dog yourself.  What then?  Here is some advice from Dogs Trust about what to if you spot a stray dog:
 
  • Remember, children should NEVER approach a stray dog.  Even if a dog appears happy, he might not be happy to see you - don't forget some dogs are afraid of children!  If you see a stray dog, the first thing you should do is tell a responsible adult.
  • The adult may be able to check the dog's collar to see if he is wearing an ID tag if he or she thinks it is safe to do so.  An ID tag usually has the owner's name/address and telephone number.  It is the law for all dogs to wear and ID tag!
  • If the dog has no ID tag, the adult may bring the dog to a local vet.  The vet will have a scanner to check the dog for a microchip containing the owner's contact details.  A microchip is usually found in a dog's neck but may 'migrate' to other parts of the dog's body.
  • You can call Dogs Trust with the dog's description as we have a list of lost and found dogs and a Facebook page, so please leave your contact details with us.
  • If no one is available to take the dog to the vet or pound, then call your local dog pound to alert the dog warden that there is a stray dog in the area.  The dog warden is also trained to deal with dogs that appear aggressive or injured - DO NOT approach these dogs yourself.  The dog warden can collect the dog and bring him to the pound.
  • Every area has a different dog pound.  You can find contact details for your nearest pound on the internet or by calling Dogs Trust or your local animal welfare organisation.
  • Dogs Trust gets 70% of our dogs from the pound and finds them new, loving forever homes.


How to make sure YOUR dog doesn't become lost/stray:
  • Always walk your dog on a lead to keep him or her safe and secure.
  • Children under 16 should walk their dogs in the company of an adult.
  • Do not allow your dog to roam the streets on his own as your dog may become lost, stolen or injured.
  • Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and ID tag - it's the law!
  • Get your dog 'chipped'.  A microchip is a tiny computer chip in the back of a dog's neck containing the owner's contact details.  This can be done at your local vets or check out one of Dog Trust's FREE microchipping events this September -  details can be found on www.dogstrust.ie or on our Facebook page.  The law states that ALL dogs must be microchipped by 2016.
  • If your dog does get lost, contact your local pound, Dogs Trust or other animal welfare organisation with your details and a description of the dog.  Don't forget to put up posters in your neighbour and on the internet.

Friday 15 August 2014

Doggy Detectives


 
Calling all young Doggy Detectives - do you want to be the next 'Sherlock Bones'?  The Dogs Trust Education Team is hosting a very special event at our state-of-the-art Rehoming Centre in Finglas for children aged 6-13 to test their skills as private investigators.

Take part in a specially designed Doggy Detective workshop, inspect our centre and brand new puppy wing on a detective themed behind-the-scenes tour, preview our 'Inspector Paws' DVD along with popcorn, enjoy coluring/quizzes and go home with a free goodie bag.  What a paw-fect day out!

Here are the details, so be sure to BOOK NOW:

When - 12pm - 2.30pm on Saturday 23rd August

WhereDogs Trust Rehoming Centre, Ashbourne Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. (Little tip, it's exit 5 off the M50)

How much - €5 per child (adults go free!)

Ages - 6 to 13 years old

Please note there are limited places for this event so book today using the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/doggy-detectives-dogs-trust-tickets-12639263377



Friday 8 August 2014

RDS Horseshow


The RDS Horseshow in Dublin is not just for equines - Dogs Trust is there representing the canines!  Be sure to pop into the main hall and visit our stand at F10.  We'll be there each day until Sunday 10th August with tonnes of information about the work our charity does; from rehoming to education to neutering.  You'll meet the Education Team and the hard-working guys and gals from our Dublin office, who will be selling our fantastic Dogs Trust merchandise to raise funds for the more than 200 dogs currently at our centre.  Hope to see you there!