Dog neutering prevails in rural Wales

The Farming Community gets behind Dogs Trust’s Free Neutering Campaign…

Dogs Trust has had a very enthusiastic response from the farming community in Wales following efforts to urge farmers to consider neutering and microchipping their dogs. The UK’s largest dog welfare charity is offering to neuter and microchip all farm dogs for free in an attempt to address the huge stray dog population in Wales. 185 veterinary surgeries currently take part in the scheme with more becoming involved every week due to the increasing demand for this much needed service.

Despite the fact that neutering is a simple process preventing unwanted puppies, reducing straying, aggressive and unwanted sexual behaviour, the farming community in Wales has historically been reluctant to neuter their farm dogs because of the misheld belief that neutering affects a dog’s ability to work. The success of the scheme indicates that attitudes towards neutering are changing.

Sian Edwards, Campaigns Manager for Dogs Trust in Wales, says:

“Our launch of the scheme at this year’s Royal Welsh Show has seen a huge uptake of free neutering and chipping for farm dogs. We had some great feedback at the show from farmers who had already used the scheme for both their pet dogs and working dogs. We also had a really positive response from owners of working Terriers and Lurchers who reported that their neutered dogs were much more focused on their work now.

“As well as providing general advice on neutering, microchipping and responsible dog ownership, Dogs Trust offer free neutering and chipping at participating vets for dog owners with a farm holding number. So many vets in Wales take part so there really is no excuse not to neuter!”

Sharon Pond, a Carmarthenshire Sheep Farmer, says:

“I think the farm dogs scheme is brilliant and would like to thank Dogs Trust for the opportunity to have Chip, my two year old Border Collie, neutered.

He is exactly the same smart, active working dog he was before the operation. I would strongly recommend this neutering service and I’m sure that a lot of farmers will take up the offer because it is free and so readily available. It will go some way to help solve the problem of unwanted litters of puppies and so many Border collies, Lurchers and Terriers ending up in rescue centres.”

Dawn Cracknell, a Cattle farmer from Chepstow adds:

“Last year I had Oz, my retired Border Collie neutered. He stopped straying which fortunately put an end to calls from neighbouring farms about him roaming onto their property so I thought it would be a good idea to also neuter my 18-month-old working Kelpie Zulu. I was delighted when my local vet informed me that Dogs Trust would cover the cost of Zulu’s operation. It was a huge success, she is so much more focused and although she has not been training for long Zulu is fast becoming a brilliant cattle dog.”

For more information about getting your dog neutered under the dogs trust farm dog neutering scheme ask your local Vet or call the Campaigns Team on 07932 115750.

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, caring for over 16,000 stray or abandoned dogs through its network of 17 Rehoming Centres across the UK every year.