Staffordshire Bull Terriers have become an overbred and abused breed in the UK. Every year, thousands are euthanised through no fault of their own, so much so that they have become the UK’s "Death Row Dogs".
A dog pound is a facility where the local Council hold stray dogs found in their area, which have been picked up by either Local Authorities or by the Police.
The dog will be kept there for 7 days. After 7 days, the dog will become the responsibility of the kennel. Due to the sheer volume of SBT’s arriving in Local Authority ‘pounds’, compared to other breeds of dog the SBT’s are frequently the ones that never get rescued and are left in the pounds when the dreaded ‘put to sleep date’ arrives.
According to The Dogs Trust annual Stray Dog Survey(2013-2014) an estimated 110,975 stray dogs were handled by UK local authority pounds during the 12 month period 1st April 2013 – 31st March 2014. Of these, more than 50% were reunited with their owners, while 7% – 7,058 dogs – were killed. Using this figure and based on the return data, the Dogs Trust estimates that approximately 7,805 were killed in UK pounds in the 12 month period. With an estimated 10,000 more dogs being killed in rescue centres, this total is around 18,000 dogs being killed every year; 49 dogs a day; 346 dogs every week, 2 dogs every hour of every day, all killed simply because they were let down by the people who were supposed to care for and protect them, and there is no safe place for them to go. Every year in the UK almost 110,000 lost or unwanted dogs find themselves in local authority pounds around the country, alone and scared. After a mere seven days any dog unclaimed or successfully rescued is legally allowed to be killed by lethal injection.
Thousands of healthy dogs are killed in the UK every year. They died afraid and alone, unclaimed strays, thrown out like unwanted toys. Britain's throwaway society has gone mad. One staffie dies every hour in the UK. Please help us to help them, be the cure, not the cause, spay, neuter, foster, adopt. And this is how we began............ fostering, adopting, transporting, fundraising, helping to save lives, anyway we can.
Please take a minute to watch the videos below, Yes they are sad but they are a true account of Britain today and it's throw away society, This is a story that needs to be told We hope it opens your eyes and touches your hearts like it did ours
This is happening today in pounds all over the UK. Help to stop irresponsible breeding by spaying and neutering your pets and offer a rescue dog a home. "Be the solution not the cause"
Young healthy animals, outgrown their puppy cuteness, abandoned waiting to die alone with no-one to cry for them.
Overpopulation facts are simple. There are just too many dogs and not enough homes. Consider these statistics as to how just one litter can result in hundreds to thousands of unwanted dogs:
One Dog 1st year 4 offspring with 2 females 2nd year 12 offspring 3rd year 36 offspring 5th year 324 offspring 7th year 4,372 offspring
All this from just one female dog!
Do you still want to breed your dog?
Can you be sure that it's pups and their pups will not end up in the pound on death row like thousand of other dogs?
Have a look at the dogs we save from death row, a human was responsible for them once!
No more lonely cold nights or hearing that I'm bad No more growling belly from the meals I never had No more scorching sunshine with a water bowl that's dry No more complaining neighbours about the noise when I cry No more hearing 'shut up', 'get down' 'get out of here' No more feeling disliked only peace is in the air Euthanasia is a blessing though some still can't see Why I was ever born, if I weren't meant to be My last day of living was the best I ever had Someone held me very close, I could see she was so sad I kissed the lady's face and she hugged me as she cried I wagged my tail to thank her, then I closed my eyes and..... died.
Staffies...... the harsh reality !
Just a Staffy Cross.
Today is just another day - to me they're all the same I have the worst of genes you see, I bear the "Staffy" shame. The shame is in our numbers, there's thousands with no home. Thousands just like me you'll find, in kennels all alone.
My mum was "just a Staffy", my father - well who knows? Mum, too, became unwanted, as the last puppy goes. And then begins the process, of money-making deals A life of "moving on" unfolds, who cares how the Staffy feels? If you have the cash to hand, the Staffy pup is yours But that pup is getting bigger now, just look at those big paws.
You brought me for your image, thought I'd make you look more tough But you'll find my boisterous nature has already got too much. If you had thought to train me, with kindness and with praise You would have had a faithful friend to share your darkest days. I would lay down my life for you, but you simply cannot see You make sure you get your money back on what you paid for me.
And on it goes, until one day, I'm no longer worth a dime The retail on an adult staff - not worth the waste of time. So what happens to a Staffy now? Do you really want to know? Do you care what will become of us, when we leave our final home?
Have you ever thought to wonder, "Where is that Staffy now?" The "Staffy" has another name; he's become a "stray" somehow. Me, I was put into a car and driven far away The door held open, I jumped out, I thought to run and play. It was with joy and happy heart I turned to look for you You drove away with all my trust and a piece of my heart too.
I wondered round for many days before I was brought here. Now I wait with heavy heart, trepidation and with fear. Seven days is all I have you see, seven days for you to claim The little dog that you threw out, for which you have no shame.
This is my last goodbye now my seven days are up If only more thought had gone into the future of that pup As the needle empties to my veins I lay down with one last sigh I'm sorry I was born a Staffy, because it means that I must die.
Today is the day that I shall die My life was short and I don't know why I don't yet know that this will be my fate the humans just stood there at my gate
And in their eyes I saw their sorrow They told me I had no more time to borrow My 7 days have been and gone and yet I'm yet to know what I've done wrong
I greeted the humans with a waggling tail But with their resolved seemed to fail I did not understand why they cried They told me again that they had tried
But rescues are full and I'm on death row and this meant that I had nowhere to go Except from that room at the end of the block It was only then that I took stock
I've seen others go in and never come out And it was at this point that I had no doubt Today was the day that I would die And yet I still did not understand why
As they lead me kindly into that room I knew my life would be over soon The needle comes out and the drugs take effect The humans hold me kindly with respect
This is the end I'm going to die and then suddenly I understood why I was bred without a care, without though or reason Only because my mum came into season
I was bred to be sold, bred for money At first my new family thought my antics were funny but as the days past by and the bigger I grew Left home alone all day I began to chew
Soon they said this is not the place for me so up went my ad onto Gumtree Family dog free to a good home Five months old and no fault of her own
Next the place was even less fun Kept in a cage with no hope of a run soon came the day of my first season And now I was the one bred without reason
My pups were soon sold and I was alone I really hope they have all found a loving home Shut up in a cage alone and in the dark For hours on end, I would just bark
Once again I became too much trouble so up went my ad on the double work commitments forces sale Only 10months old its a familiar tale
The next people seemed nice at first But it was not long before the bubble burst In this place I was trained to fight But they gave up on that as I refused to bite
They spoke to me as I was taken back to the crate If you won't fight we'll use you as bait I was chained to a post by my collar When other dogs attacked I would holler
this life went on like this for quite some time But I was soon told I was past my prime I thought we might have been going for a walk Yet in the car was no talk And slowly the car came to a halt I was thrown out the door with a jolt I stood and watch as the car speed away It was cold and dark and I had nowhere to stay
It was by this road that I was eventually found And was taken away by the local pound And here I lie as I take my last breath I have one thing to ask as I accept my death
YOU CAN HELP SAVE OTHERS FROM MY FATE SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR DOG BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!
My family brought me home cradled in their arms. They cuddled me and smiled at me and said I was full of charm. They played with me and laughed with me and showered me with toys. I sure do love my family, especially the girls and boys. The children loved to feed me, they gave me special treats. They even let me sleep with them – all snuggled in the sheets. I used to go for walks, often several times a day. They even fought to hold the leash, I’m very proud to say. These are the things I’ll not forget – a cherished memory. I now live in the shelter-without my family. They used to laugh and praise me when I played with that old shoe. But I didn’t know the difference between the old ones and the new. The kids and I would grab a rag, for hours we would tug. So I thought I did the right thing when I chew the bedroom rug. They said that I was out of control, and would have to live outside. This I did not understand, although I tried and tried. The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadn’t time. I wish that I could change things, I wish I knew my crime. My life became so lonely, in the backyard, on a chain. I barked and barked all day long to keep from going insane. So they brought me to the shelter but were embarrassed to say why, They said I caused an allergy, and then they each kissed me goodbye. If I’d only had some classes, as a little pup. I wouldn’t have been so hard to handle when I was all grown up. “You only have one day left.” I heard the worker say. Does that mean I have a second chance? Do I go Home today?
-Sandi Thompson
STAFFY RESCUE DOG
Back and forth the kennel he paces, As he watches peoples faces, Some have eyes that glaze right through, Others give a sigh; “poor old you”, But none of them see the dog beneath, The heart of gold that is underneath, This old boy is no longer a pup, So it was time to give him up.
He used to bark when he seen you, Between the bars his tongue poked through, On his rear legs he stood tall, Even though he was quite small, Happy and jolly he loved to play, Sadly now he sees no light of day, Just a wall made of bricks, Still it has to beat those kicks.
The days grow longer and he knows his fate, Though he longs to find a new best mate, He knows what happens in the room, In his head this threat will loom, The clock still ticks and the wind still blows, They day has come and that he knows, Round his neck the lead hangs low, “Come on now boy time to go”.
Into the room he walk so shy, But through the windows he sees the sky, The needle was ready and he was held tight, “Its okay little boy please don’t fight”, “This is nothing to be scared of my dear”, For in his eye they could see the fear, “Today is the day you leave us, you see”, “There is a better place for you to be” .
To his surprise he didn’t sleep, But there were tears from those who weep, A family came to take him home, To a place where he will never be alone, Children to play with and some toys, Even some rough play with the boys, A bowl of food to munch all day, No rations for what they can afford to pay,
Some love is all he needed to be shown, Not out into the street like he was thrown, A roof, a bed, a dish of food, Lightens up his saddened mood, He stands and watches the children play, How this family made his day, He was given a chance so many are not, Something that will never be forgot.
"and so our rescue was born to help save the lives of these beautiful, loving, loyal family pets"
Staffie Smiles Rescue helping death row dogs in pounds all over the UK.
