Dog ‘adoptions’ put on hold for festive season

DOGS Trust has suspended the adoption of its pets until the new year, as animal welfare advocates urge members of the public to stop and think before buying someone a pet for Christmas.

The charity suspended animal adoptions from Saturday last up through January 3, in an attempt to curb impulse purchases for people who are unable to look after a dog. This means that Dogs Trust will not be rehoming dogs or puppies during that time period.

Instead, those who were thinking of adopting a dog for Christmas are encouraged to visit the Dogs Trust Centre in Finglas, Dublin, and research the costs and implications of dog ownership, before bringing a dog home.

Spokeswoman for Dogs Trust, Ciara Byrne, said the charity’s slogan, A Dog is for Life still rings true 40 years after it was first coined.

‘We still see, all too often, people not taking time and thinking about the responsibilities of dog ownership,’ said Ms Byrne. The delay in dog adoption is part of the trust’s new campaign, ‘paws4thought’, which encourages people to think before they become dog owners.

IT is eminently sensible for bosses at the Dogs Trust charity to suspend their rehoming programme until the New Year. Even now, people are still prone to buying pets on impulse during the festive season.

So it’s timely to give that well-worn motto yet another airing. A dog is for life, not just for Christmas...