Huskies are not direwolves, warns Game of Thrones star

GAME of Thrones star Peter Dinklage has joined animal charities in pleading with fans to stop buying huskies after the number abandoned has grown eight-fold since the show began.

The dogs, which bear a strong resemblance to the “direwolves” that feature in the fantasy series, are often dumped once the novelty has worn off.

Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister in the television series, joined the animal charity Peta to ask fans to stop buying the animals.

“We understand that due to the direwolves’ popularity, many folks are going out and buying huskies but… please, if you’re going to bring a dog into your family, make sure that you’re prepared for such a tremendous responsibility and remember to always, always, adopt from a shelter,” he said.

Before the show aired in 2011, the number of abandoned huskies was about 10 a year, said the animal welfare charity Blue Cross, but last year the figure hit 81. Already 29 huskies have been abandoned this year and Blue Cross expects the figure to rise now the new series is under way.

“Numbers of abandoned and unwanted wolf-like dogs, including huskies and malamutes, ending up at Blue Cross have been steadily rising,” a spokesman for the charity said.

“People are being drawn in by their striking looks, having spotted them on shows such as Game of Thrones – and are making snap decisions without thinking about how their lifestyle fits in with the animal’s needs.

“Huskies can pull sleds across hundreds of miles of icy terrain. They are not happy with slobbing in front of the telly after a 10-minute plod round the block.”