Call to neuter and licence dogs

His call comes after a heavily pregnant Jack Russell bitch was found straying on a road in the Killea area by a couple out walking. The couple who rescued her, Gerry and Jackie Coyle, said when they came across the little dog was weaving in and out of traffic.

After the Rainbow Rehoming Centre in Eglinton was contacted the dog, who has been named Megan, was placed with a foster home, where, early the next morning she produced nine puppies. Sadly she lost three, but four male and two female pups which arrived between 1.30am and 5.45am, survived.

Mr Duddy said that if it transpired that Megan had been dumped by her owners so as to avoid the expense of her whelping pups, it was something to be condemned.

"If that is the case and she's been dumped then I condemn it. That dog could have been neutered for nothing through our free neutering voucher scheme that we are running in conjunction with the Dogs Trust.

"Not only does neutering prevent litters of unwanted pups and the expense that that entails, but it also give dogs a longer life as it does away with certain types of illness and cancers. So it really is 'nicer to neuter'.

Mr Duddy went on to stress the importance of ensuring family pets were licenced and had a collar with identity tag and licence tag attached.

"At the moment the licence for dogs is still only 5, and we recommend that dogs are licenced because it makes it easier for us to return dogs to the responsible owner. Stray dogs cause us two problems. Firstly it results in fouling which has to be cleaned, and secondly stray dogs can cause accidents or can attack humans or other animals."

In addition to paying Council's kennel fees of 18 a day, irresponsible owners can also expect to be fined 10 for allowing their dog to stray as well as 25 if their pets do not to have a valid licence.

He said that animals could also stray by accident having got out of a yard or off a lead after being frightened.

"These dogs are frequently stressed out, frightened and lost, as well as hungry. Ensuring that much-loved family pets are wearing a collar with their licence and identity tags attached means it is easier for us to re-unite them with responsible owners," he said.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Rainbow Rehoming Centre said: "Poor Megan has been through so much. She is lucky to be alive! It is possible she was abandoned due to the pregnancy and unwanted puppies and we would like to urge people to please neuter their dogs."