Dogs Trust received over 2,600 requests to surrender pets this year

A grim stat heading into Christmas.

In the lead up to 25th each year, dog shelters the world over re-iterate the same vital bit of info:

A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.

No doubt there are families all over the country hoping to wake up and find a red ribbon-adorned puppy under the tree on Christmas morning but sadly, figures shared by Irish dog shelters indicate not many of us are ready for the life-long commitment of a pet.

In a recent post on Instagram, Dogs Trust Ireland shared the grim news that the charity had received over 2,600 requests from members of the public looking to surrender dogs into their care this year. A similar trend was seen in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as puppies purchased over lockdown were surrendered and abandoned in droves once life returned to ‘normal’.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmV8YInMFjP/

This year, Dogs Trust are imploring people not to rush into dog ownership. In a post shared this morning, the charity wrote:

If you are planning to add a dog to your family, we ask you to consider everything involved in dog ownership, before embarking on a life-long journey with a dog and to please consider adopting a dog if you can.

Last month, the charity’s #LifeSentence campaign appealed for tougher punishments for puppy farmers, who tend to be busier than ever over the festive season.

Irish dog charities including DSCPA and Dogs Trust usually suspend all adoptions over the Christmas period, as alarming numbers of dogs received as Christmas presents are returned once January hits.

Header image via Instagram/dogtrust_ire

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