As a rescue organisation we care about the dogs in our care not making money.

We would always encourage people to offer a rescue dog a home rather than buying one. If you do choose to buy a dog make sure you choose a reputable breeder.

All our dogs are living in homes so have been socialised and vetted. They will also have been wormed, received at least their first vaccination and if old enough, will have been spayed/neutered.

Please visit the following site for more information:

www.dogstrust.org.uk/information

Here you will find great advice and suggestions on dog ownership

The first thing you will need to do is download the application form which can be found here. Please fill in as much information as possible and email it to forms@dogsindistress.org. If you have already seen a dog you like please include the dogs name in the subject line of the email.

Someone will then contact you to discuss your suitability and talk about any dogs which may be suitable for your home. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding feeding, exercise, training etc. You can also ask to meet the foster family and be introduced to the dog you want to adopt.

The second step is a home visit. This is when a volunteer will call to your home and meet you and your family. They will assess the security of the garden and where the dog will sleep etc. A home visit is necessary to match the right dog with the right home and gives you a chance to talk to someone face to face about any questions or concerns you might have.

Once the dog has been vaccinated, wormed and spayed/neutered where necessary they are ready to be rehomed. Once you have signed the adoption contract and made a donation, you will be able to take your dog home.

Please remember that once the dog is in your home, Dogs In Distress will still be there to support you. If you have any concerns on how the dog is settling in etc, please contact us.

Please fill in the foster form which can be found here and email it to forms@dogsindistress.org.

Someone will then contact you to discuss your application.

If successful, you can offer to foster any dog that appears in the Urgent Action Needed section of the website. Alternatively, Gwen (our foster co-ordinator) will ask you to foster dogs which we feel may be suitable for your home.

Dogs In Distress will cover all veterinary costs and can supply food, bedding etc. All we ask from you is your time and love for these dogs - To offer them a safe and warm home until they go to their forever home or their offered rescue space.

Please contact Kathy (pm kaydoyle on the forum or call 086 3696413) if you have any questions regarding fostering.

Ashton Pound is one of the busiest pounds in Ireland.

It is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (closes 1pm to 2pm for lunch). It opens from 10am to 12pm on Saturdays on Sunday.

Telephone: 01 838 3236 and 01 868 3038

Directions to Ashton Pound
From M50 Go through the Toll Bridge heading Northbound.
Take your first exit after that marked for Blanchardstown - stay on the outside lane and take your 3rd exit off the roundabout
Go to the next roundabout and go through that (the travellodge will be on your left hand side).
Go down that road, when you come to the next roundabout take your first exit (when you turn the Halfway House pub will be on your right).
Go straight down that road over the rail tracks.
Go through the small roundabout and when you come to the crossroads turn left.
Travel about 200 meters up the road and the pound is through the first gates on your left hand side.

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/

http://petsireland.invisionzone.com/

http://www.dogsbehavingbadly.net/

Although each dog is different, here are some basic tips:

Introduce the two dogs on the lead on neutral territory. Perhaps take them for a long walk together in a park where your dog does not normally go.

Don’t force them to interact. Let them ignore each other if that’s what they want.

If one of them immediately tries to attack for no apparent reason, separate them and try again later in the day in a different location.

At home, make sure you remove any food/toys that they may fight over. Give them their own beds which may be put in separate rooms, until you know that they are okay together.

Try not to give one more attention than the other. Don’t get involved in any small fights as they need to sort themselves out and it is usually just a lot of noise and teeth gnashing.

Remember that there is always a period of adjustment when a new dog comes in to a home and there may be the odd argument, which you must try to ignore but these should decrease over time.

Until you can be sure that they get along fine, do not feed them together, do not to leave them alone together and make sure that you remove anything that they may fight over.

If you are still having problems we would suggest contact a qualified behaviourist.

1. Contact your local pound. By law, dogs found straying can be collected by a dog warden and taken to the pound. They will generally be kept there for only five days. Ring them every day to check if your dog has been found. If you have a photo, offer to post it to them or drop it off.

2. Leave your name, phone number and a description of your dog with the Garda Stations nearest to you

3. Check the lost & found section daily, as well as other sources, as they are updated with new founds.

4. Check local vets, kennels and rescue centres to see if your dog has been handed in there.

5. Put up posters offering a reward (Don't say how much) for the return of your pet, include a photo if at all possible. Place them in markets, take aways, vets & doctors surgeries, bus stops and anywhere that people gather.

6. Go to places that you regularly walked your dog. Visit building sites & schools. Always ask children, as they are most likely to notice a wandering dog.

excerpt from Irish Control of Dogs Act 1986

13.—(1) Any person, other than a dog warden or a member of the Garda Síochána, who finds and takes possession of a stray dog shall, forthwith—

( a ) return the dog to its owner, or

( b ) deliver the dog to a dog warden, or

( c ) detain the dog and give notice in writing containing a description of the dog, the address of the place where it was found, and the address of the place where it is detained to the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was found, or to a dog warden.

If you take the dog in you can keep it for 28 days without a licence, then the animal must be licenced and if you decide to keep/rehome the dog, ownership of the dog is not yours until a year and a day have passed. This does NOT apply to dogs adopted/rescued from pounds, only those taken in as strays.

Place an ad in the lost and found section of www.irishanimals.com and www.petsireland.invisionzone.com

You should also try to get the dog to a vet to scan him for a microchip (usually free of charge). Ring up local vets in the area and leave a description of the dog along with a contact phone number.

Bring the dog walking in the area that he was found in, in case anyone might recognise him/her.

Place an ad in the Evening Herald, Gumtree and Donedeal.

Make up posters and put them up around the area that the dog was found in.