‘Great pain and immense sadness’ as Pet FBI decides not to renew lease at Derry dog pound

Pet FBI is a charity that describes itself as ‘dedicated to animal welfare’ and which ‘operates a lost-and-found service as well as dog adoption’ service. The non-profit works with ‘the Derry and Strabane dog pound to try to get as many dogs there as possible a furrever [sic] home’.

It has been based at the Pennyburn dog pound since 2021.

“This voluntary service has been a lifeline for so many pets and the kennels must continue to house strays and abandonment cases but we no longer have the strength to do so ourselves.

“Stress levels are at an all time high and the pressure is relentless. Running costs are immense. Criticism is rampant and nerves are shattered.

“We are a small team who have been doing our best and we are eternally grateful for the support we’ve had for 10 years to allow us to help make a difference in animals lives but we’re human.

"We’re weary. Tensions are too high and we can’t take any more,” the charity said on its Facebook page which has been used to rehome hundreds of domestic pets, mostly cats and dogs, over the past decade.

The charity encouraged people to continue to support local rescue animals and paid tribute to the ‘gargantuan effort put in by their dedicated volunteers’. Supporters should also continue to contact local dog wardens to report stray dogs in the Derry and Strabane area, it said.

“We have families and the same commitments and stresses as everyone else. We’re not made of stone. We’re depressed, broken, our emotions are in pieces and we have to step back from this now for our own sanity.

"We may regroup in the future as a lost and found page only but we will no longer be operating as a rehoming shelter.

“We will be relying on the help of other rescues to find homes for our remaining dogs and we want to offer our sincere thanks to Dogs Trust for all the help they have provided us with right up until this moment. Stay safe and keep your pets safe,” it stated.

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