25 dogs are dumped on Birmingham streets every week

Birmingham residents are leaving more than 25 defenceless dogs homeless every week as they struggle to cope with the costs of keeping a pet.

Beleaguered Birmingham City Council are being forced to deal with more than three dogs every day being dumped by heartless owners.

Could you abandon this face?

In the past year, 2,400 pooches were found on Birmingham’s streets – that’s 200 every month.

After the missing and microchipped mutts had been returned to their owners, a whopping 1,991 were left.

The stragglers were taken to Birmingham Dog’s Home, and only 401 have since been claimed – leaving 788 hounds homeless.

Just look at his little face

Vikki Allwood, senior animal welfare officer for Birmingham City Council, told the Birmingham Mail: “Dogs are said to be man’s best friend but, while the vast majority of owners understand a dog is for life, we are still finding too many strays.

“Abandoning a dog not only puts it at risk but puts an extra strain on the city’s stray dog kennels, as re-homing these unwanted pets can prove difficult. People want to have cute puppies rather than adult dogs.

“Some owners cannot afford high veterinary fees, but this is a cost they must factor in when they get a dog. The PDSA may be able to offer discounted veterinary care in some cases, but only for people who are receiving benefits.”

If the dogs are not rehomed in a week, wardens will begin the search for new owners.

Better stock up on Dentastix.