A leading animal charity has branded a Daily Mail journalist’s behaviour as “unacceptable” after she admitted she had abandoned four dogs in four years when they stopped being puppies.
Shona Sibary, a freelance journalist writing for the comment section, said she had bought four puppies from breeders but given them away once they became fully grown adults and their behaviour began to change.
One dog was given away to a geography teacher “with a passion for hiking up mountains” after her “escapologist tendencies” meant she climbed over fences and dug holes in neighbours gardens.
Another was given away because he was overly aggressive with other dogs and two others were sent away for killing sheep near her rural Devon home.
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Despite this she has now a seven month old whippet cross cocker spaniel called Clover but warned “ if she continues to leap onto the kitchen counters to steal food I’ll probably get rid of her, too.”
Giles Webber, director of rehoming at the Dogs Trust, said: “Sadly, for every dedicated, responsible dog owner there are too many people just like Shona Sibary who are happy to give up their dog when it loses the cute factor or when it becomes too much effort."
They have invited Ms Sibary and her family to come to one of their rehoming centres to see “the impact of early abandonment on certain dogs.”
Ms Sibary’s attitude was widely criticised on Twitter with users calling for her to be banned from ever owning another dog:
THIS WOMAN IS SHONA SIBARY. SHE REPEATEDLY BUYS PUPPIES THEN TURNS HER BACK ON THEM. DO NOT SELL DOGS TO HER. pic.twitter.com/RTTREoA3H6
— Morgane le Fay☾ (@morgancrawf) August 28, 2015
Disgusting article by @shona_sibary, She gives away puppies when they look old, not caring about their emotional bonds.. or her kids.
— Robin Thomas Burn (@KingofWing) August 28, 2015
Animals bond with their humans. Your behaviour is callous, shallow and cruel. It should be a lifetime commitment @shona_sibary @Femail
— poppycoburn (@poppycoburn) August 28, 2015
I didn't it was possible to dislike #ShonaSibary even more. I was wrong. Vile woman. Apologies for #DailyFail link. http://t.co/7zUFRpddCC
— Liz Needham (@lizneedhamAL1) August 28, 2015
But she defended herself on Twitter saying:
I'm not leaving them at the side of the road guys. They were all found loving homes! 'http://t.co/pefEY0I9mi via @Femail
— Shona Sibary (@shona_sibary) August 28, 2015
@DogsTrustPR I haven't 'abandoned' any of my dogs. They have all gone to loving homes who can put the time and effort in to care for them
— Shona Sibary (@shona_sibary) August 28, 2015
@northerngrin @DogsTrustPR I know exactly where they are - just not physically at this very moment in time!
— Shona Sibary (@shona_sibary) August 28, 2015
