Council reminds public ‘A dog for life not just Christmas’

With the festive season upon us, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is reminding members of the public of the responsibilities involved in buying and owning a dog.

While getting a new puppy can be a wonderful experience, it’s important to be mindful of your obligations as a dog owner.

All dogs need walked daily no matter what the weather or how busy you are. Dogs that are not exercised can become bored and start destructive behaviours such as chewing furniture and barking which may annoy your neighbours. Your dog will need to go to the toilet and this will require you to lift poo daily from your garden or carry poo bags to lift it should they do it on their walks.

There is also ongoing financial costs to keeping a dog including buying pet food and regular vet checks or veterinary treatment for injuries or disease.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council recommends you only buy from a registered dog breeder. For this you should be able to go to the breeder’s premises and see the parent dogs and be satisfied you are buying from a healthy and safe place. All puppies should be at least 8 weeks old before you can take them home and the breeder should be able to show you any relevant vaccinations records. Do not buy a puppy that looks sick, underweight or too young.

All puppies have to be microchipped in order for you to obtain a dog licence. All dogs must be licenced. You can licence your dog online at www.fermanaghomagh.com or by contacting Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on 0300 303 1777, text phone 028 8225 6216.

So, if you can ensure you can walk, care and feed your dog daily and afford to pay veterinary bills, grooming and food bills then you should be able to have a well behaved companion who is content and happy.

Remember, a dog is for life not just Christmas.