As a nation, we claim to be animal lovers. Thousands of households have pet dogs, and millions of pounds are spent yearly on pet supplies and food. But as a nation, we should take a hard, sobering look at a different UK statistic:
Approximately one hundred and fifty stray dogs are killed every week in council pounds throughout the UK, for no other reason than being homeless. This figure does not include the staggering number of dogs euthanized in rescue centres due to lack of space, or those no longer wanted by their owners handed into their vets to be destroyed. It also doesn't include the vast number of ex-breeding, racing and working dogs sentenced to death by their owners when supposedly no longer of any use.
Tremendous as the problem of pet overpopulation is, it can be solved if each of us takes just one small step, choosing to adopt instead of buying our next companion.