Abandoned dogs suffer as the recession bites

Dec 16 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PERTHSHIRE’S dog rescue charity, PADS, launched a Christmas appeal this week for cash to help sick and injured animals.

PADS, the Perthshire Abandoned Dogs Society, says family pets are in even more need than usual right now because of the current economic climate. It wants to boost its SPUD fund, which is set aside to help pay for expensive veterinary treatment for stricken dogs who come into the charity’s care.

The fund, named after a Jack Russell terrier called Spud, pays for operations and costly long term treatment for such dogs in the hope that they become well enough to be rehomed.

A charity spokesman explained: “We named the appeal after a wee Jack Russell who had been left near a riverside path. The little chap’s back legs were completely paralysed. He was very ill and he couldn’t move. Had it not been for a keen-eyed passer-by the dog would have died terrified and all alone.”

Carers at PADS rushed Spud to the vet and the wee dog underwent several operations before being able to get around with the help of a tiny wheeled trolley under his back legs.

Since then the SPUD fund has financed treatment for many dogs, including a lurcher who fell from a window and suffered terrible injuries which took many months to heal.

“We want to make sure that we always have a healthy fund and ask the generous folk of Perth to perhaps remember Spud and his friends this Christmas.”

The PADS Christmas SPUD Appeal 2008 has been launched in memory of veteran dog campaigner Heidi Beerensson, a founder member of the charity who died early this year and who always ran her own appeal at the Festive Season.

“All of us at PADS are sure that our greatly missed colleague Heidi would have approved of the aims of this year’s appeal.”

Send donations to PADS treasurer Robert Macdonald, 31 Hamilton Place, Perth, PH1 1BD.

If you are interested in a PADS dog, call the kennels at Forteviot on 01764 684491, or e-mail padskennels@btinternet.com

The kennels are open to the public from 1pm until 3pm on weekdays and from 1pm until 3.30pm at weekends.

A spokesman at the kennels said: “We have a dozen dogs waiting for new homes.

“It’s unusual to get so many small animals coming in for rehoming. We think perhaps the recession is beginning to bite and some people think they may be unable to afford their animals, particularly if there is a chance that they may need to pay expensive vet bills as the dogs get older.”