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Dogs Trust ‘press paws’ on
adoptions over Christmas
16.12.19
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DOGS Trust, Ireland’s
largest dog welfare charity, has today announced
that they will suspend the rehoming of dogs over the
festive period to prevent people rushing out to get
a dog for Christmas. Christmas is not a good time to
take on a new dog, especially a puppy. It is
critical that dogs are provided with basic training
and positive socialisation experiences in those
first few months to set them up for the best start
in life. Many people, often with the very best
intentions, are simply unable to provide this at a
busy time like Christmas. |
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‘A dog is for life, not just
for Christmas®’ |
In addition, Dogs Trust
will be pawsing their weekly Puppy Cam so viewers
will have to wait until the new year to set eyes on
the charity’s adorable puppies.
Dogs Trust has received 2,135 calls and emails from
members of the public this year looking to surrender
their dog, with 667 of those in the first three
months of the year. January continues to have the
highest number of surrender requests each year, with
189 calls and a further 47 emails in 2019. The top
reason given for people looking to give up their dog
was that they didn’t have enough time to look after
them anymore.
Speaking about the announcement, Executive Director
at Dogs Trust, Becky Bristow said: “Dogs Trust
coined the phrase ‘A dog is for life, not just for
Christmas®’ over 40 years ago, and sadly it is still
as relevant today as it was then. Each year we are
saddened and worried by the number of people looking
to relinquish their dog, especially in the first few
months after Christmas. It’s no surprise that
January continues to have the highest number of
surrender requests and reinforces our need to go out
with our message every year. We hope that by
spreading this message that it will remind people
that a dog is a long-term commitment and will
encourage people to wait and consider adding a dog
to their family in the New Year instead, when the
festivities have died down. We would encourage those
who have made the decision to get a dog in the New
Year, to consider adopting from your local rescue
centre, local pound or Dogs Trust and give a rescue
dog the best second chance in life.” |
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