Barrowman adopts... a dog

Old pals need new year hope


MANY older dogs are abandoned at this time of year to make way for puppies bought as presents Pictures: Marc Turner


EVERYONE is looking forward to the prospect of a happy new year. But spare a thought for the dozens of elderly dogs found unwanted and abandoned over the festive season.
It's a harsh fact of life that, despite what is supposed to be the season of goodwill, this sometimes does not appear to include older family pets who find themselves cast on the scrapheap for a new young pup.
So acute has the problem become, a West of Scotland animal charity recently opened a temporary home for abandoned animals in October.
Now the Dogs Trust, who created the slogan "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas", is asking dog lovers to think about re-homing one of the 16 elderly pooches in their care at the state-of-the-art rehoming centre in Uddingston, which opened in October.

Glasgow-born actor John Barrowman has already done just that.
The Dr Who and Torchwood star, below, recently adopted 12-year-old spaniel Teagan from the charity's London centre and is hoping others will follow the example.
He said: "It is absolutely shocking anyone could abandon a dog at any time of year but particularly older dogs being thrown out on to the streets in winter - it really breaks your heart.
"I recently rehomed Teagan from Dogs Trust and am enjoying spending quality time with him and my other two dogs."
The Uddingston centre, in Hamilton Road, provides 66 modern, glass fronted kennels complete with underfloor heating, while vets are on hand to attend to the injured or sick animals brought in.
Each dog is vaccinated and chipped before leaving, while new owners, who pay a £75 fee to adopt, are given behaviour advice about each individual pooch.
Staff say the 22 re-homing kennels, eight special puppy kennels and 38 holding kennels are ideal for the dogs on a temporary basis - but no substitute for a permanent loving family.
Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive of the charity, said: "In our society it is often the old who are the most vulnerable over the festive season. It is the same with dogs.
"Sadly, in the new year, the proportion of old dogs we take in to our care significantly rises compared to other times of the year."
One pooch hoping to find a home is Buddy, who was abandoned by his owners earlier this month.
Staff at the centre are now seeking a new family - preferably with older children - for the fun-loving 10-year-old Jack Russell, as well as homes for others such as Sonny, Tilly and Rosie.
Sandra Downie, manager of the centre, said: "It is so sad that lovely elderly dogs like Buddy can find themselves homeless.
"He is such a great character and it's a shame he has been cast aside.
"We really urge people to think through the responsibility involved in getting a dog and please don't abandon them in winter."
Scotland's oldest and largest animal charity, the Scottish SPCA, say they are also rescuing large numbers of homeless older dogs at their welfare centres in Cardonald, Bothwell and Milton.
A spokeswoman said: "Our welfare centres are extremely full, and fast approaching crisis point.
"Many of the abandoned dogs are elderly and have clearly been someone's pet, which is particularly depressing.
"To think that someone could just throw them out on to the street is appalling."