Feb
Rise In Staffordshire Bull Terriers Abandoned In Scotland
She attributed the huge spike in unwanted Staffies to over-breeding and the prohibitive cost of spaying the animals. She also said the problem could be lessened by the Scottish Kennel Club urging potential owners to neuter or spay those dogs not intended for competition or breeding.
Kay Hamilton continued, “I have been involved with the SSBTR for 30-odd years and I have never seen it anything like this before. It’s just terrible. It’s become worse and worse, abandoned dogs, skinny dogs, it’s getting to the point where we are struggling to cope with the numbers coming in.
“We cannot take every dog in and we are losing the place trying to keep going.
“Our primary purpose is to try to stop dogs being put to sleep for no good reason but at the minute that’s happening because of the sheer numbers coming in. The Scottish Kennel Club should make sure every dog club was made to support their local rescue centre financially and high-light the problems we are seeing in their shows and literature.”
Speaking on behalf of DogsBlog.com, the UK’s leading dog adoption site which is currently helping more than 450 Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross‘ looking for new homes. Ryan O’Meara, co-founder of DogsBlog.com says, “Staffordshire Bull Terriers are great dogs, they make great companions and family pets. If you’re thinking about getting a dog, please do consider adopting a Staffie.”
Talking Point
Read the tale of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who rescued a Shih Tzu at RescueDog.co.uk
Tell us about your Staffie stories!
I can’t stress enough how wonderful having a staffy cross is. Xena was ‘rescued’ by myself and my partner from a drug addicted family, she was barely old enough to be seperated from mum. We did ask to see the mother however this was denied us, the father was a large brilliant white staff.
Without this pup i would not have learnt the value of having such a great companion.
She has her stubborn ‘staffie’ moments, but the obedience, loyalty and companionship of these dogs is undeniably outstanding.
Many people see her and shy away, most can’t tell her from a pit bull (although the difference is huge!) but those who do take time to meet and greet, soon realise just how special she is – she accepts them quietly, enjoys the fuss and in some cases could happily follow them for miles playing with their dogs.
Another astounding part of their nature is their love for children. Xena is amazing with children. She is calm and quiet when walking past them, when children want to say hello she sits and waits for them to come to her and when in the company of children in the home she is accepting of them doting on her – they often climb into her bed and cuddle up and she adores it!
I have even seen her grooming a childs hair – not to say that this is acceptable behaviour of a dog to a child – but to show just how nurturing these animals can be of other species.
There was one particular young girl (around 4 or 5) whose mother informed us that the child had previously been bitten and was now petrified of dogs – within minutes she was stroking Xena and within 5 she has handing her a treat and giggling in delight at the dog licking her.
Xena was calm, quiet and accepting of the child throughout, she was comfortable in the situation.
Xena has also helped an older gentleman get over his fear of dogs, at one point he couldn’t sit with a dog in the house and now has Xena lay down at his feet and he can be absently fussing her whilst chatting away- no fear whatsoever!
To those who see these dogs as another potential ‘killer’ dog i urge you to go out there meet them, perhaps even adopt one: just to see how quickly you will fall in love.
anyone who has been concerned with the current non availability of rescue places for dogs due to the reccession will be aware that staffs are at the point of population explosion. to breed staffs at the moment is to condemn at least half of every litter to death. people need to wake up and realise that there is no excuse for breeding your staff at present. and to do so is cruel and unjustifiable. as a strong advocate of all bull breeds i sincerely ask all staff owners to reseach this current crisis and to realise that to breed your staff is to condemn other staffs to death.