This week I visited the Dogs Trust in Bridgend. It was a very interesting visit, especially as I am one of those sorry souls never to have had a pet! I was a little nervous to be honest- knowing that there would be hundreds of noisy dogs in one building, and anyone who has been canvassing knows that dogs can be rather vicious on the fingers!
Nevertheless I really enjoyed the visit, and was warmly welcomed by the staff. The Dogs Trust in Bridgend is a re-homing centre, and the Bridgend Centre is one of the busiest in the UK for taking in dogs of all shapes and sizes who have been left to stray on the streets, abandoned by owners and so on. The Centre undertakes an outreach scheme to encourage neutering amongst dog owners, and there is a subsidised scheme also for those who find it hard to afford neutering their dogs.
This campaign has taken place due to the fact that Centres such as the one in Bridgend receive a large percentage of litters of puppies due to the fact that owners fail to neuter their pets, or are not aware of why they need to do it. Incidentally there wasn't many puppies at the centre while I was there, but Wales's centre does have the highest proportion of puppies a year according to the Manager of the Centre.
All in all a busy week. I am visiting Swansea's NHS Direct Centre today, and then I am officially finished for the Christmas recess!
3 comments:
Did you get a puppy? A pet would help you deal with the stress of being an AM!
No I'm visiting an RSPCA centre in Swansea soon where I'm hoping to aquire a cat, though. Does that count?!
Yup, cats definitely count. I actually prefer cats anyway, as they're generally less work than dogs - the only problem is that they have a tendency to being difficult when ignored in favour of books, so don't be surprised if you find the cat sitting in the middle of your papers, looking innocent, as you try to work.
Good luck on finding a nice kitten.
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