FIONA GAMMELL,
Sir, - This is Spay Week: please allow me space in your paper to appeal to all farmers to have their dogs and cats neutered. Unwanted dogs and feral cats are a real threat to an industry already reeling from disasters such as foot-and-mouth and BSE. We cannot be taken seriously as a clean, green, good food-producing country, when we churn out thousands of unwanted dogs and cats every year.
There are 30,000 dogs destroyed in pounds around the country each year. Visit any pound or animal rescue centre and the majority of dogs there are sheepdogs or sheepdog cross. How many farmers have allowed their bitch to breed "hoping to sell the pups" only to end up bringing them to the pound or rescue centre?
Prevention is better than cure. Have your dogs and cats neutered. It does not change their character or ability to work. In fact they will be better workers, as they won't be losing months every year from heat, pregnancy and nursing pups. Take responsibility for your animals; we owe them a debt of honour for all their hard work. Avail of the voucher scheme; ask your local vet for details. - Yours, etc.,
FIONA GAMMELL, Ballyknocken, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.