Let's establish one thing right out of the gate: a rescue centre is not obligated to rehome a dog to a person simply because they've been good enough to turn up and look around.

Any person wishing to work with children or the elderly will have to be screened by the authorities, has the time come for same precautions to be taken for people wishing to rehome a dog or even purchase one?

Investigators in America say that a woman who confessed to killing 650 cats and dogs is going should face criminal charges.

Maureen McLaughlin, 56, apparently had checked herself into a mental-health facility in the Mansfield of Ohio area by the time authorities went to her home.

It is understood that the woman claims to be suffering from bi-polar disorder.

Investigators from the Franklin County Animal Shelter and the Capital Area Humane Society say McLaughlin has detailed how she drowned hundreds of animals in a dust bin filled with water.

The woman initially wanted to rehome the animals in order to prevent them languishing in the animal welfare system.

She was charged with one count of animal cruelty.

Has the time come for a standardised format of regulated background checks to be carried out on anyone attempting to rehome animals?

It seems somewhat counter productive that many rescues suffer an occasional backlash by disgruntled people who feel they have been harshly treated by way of a vigorous background check, when there are many breeders who – and we all KNOW this to be true – are happy to place a dog with anyone who's got the cash to pay for it.

If we want to solve the problem of shelters overflowing with thousands of unwanted dogs, we surely must develop a system that controls and regulates the supply of dogs. Many shelters are doing it and responsible breeders do it, but we get a vicious cycle when the people who fail dog adoption screenings simply turn to another dog supplier who is happy to place their animals in the hands of anyone who can pay.

How would YOU solve this problem?