Every dog has its Day...

...especially on St Valentine’s as canine charity tells pet lovers it’s now time to make a blind date to find a top pooch

IT’S St Valentine’s Day, so here’s your chance to experience puppy-love… but it’s blind date, canine-style.

The charity Dog’s Trust is removing all photographs of its strays looking for homes from its website today, to show that when choosing a dog you should judge them on their personality and not just looks.

Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity is hoping dog lovers will take a little more time when choosing their pet.

They want to remind them that a dog is #NotJustAPrettyFace.

And in keeping with the St Valentine’s theme, there will also be a match-making booth in the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre in Finglas, north Dublin, where people can describe their ideal dog, and the team will help them find the perfect match,

Dogs Trust head of operations Catríona Birt said: ‘Dogs have so much personality and as every dog is unique, we really want potential adopters to think about the dog that will fit into their home and lifestyle, rather than choosing a dog based solely on his or her appearance.

‘We have some fabulous characters in our care who people are really missing out on.

‘They have that all-important matchmaking profile of a great sense of humour and a fun-loving nature and are regularly overlooked because they are not considered conventionally cute.

‘Personality is so important when choosing a dog, who will share your home with you for many happy years to come.’

According to the charity, potential pet owners often have preconceived ideas about certain breeds and sizes of dogs and can miss out on their perfect pet.

Somebody who loves big dogs may completely overlook a little Jack Russell terrier, who could be ideal for them. Equally, somebody who loves little, fluffy dogs could be missing out on the world’s most amazing Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Amber, an eight-year-old Pit Bull, who appeared on the TV3 show Dog Tales with Andrea Hayes and featured one of singer Hudson Taylor’s videos, was highlighted by the charity’s #TheUnderDogs campaign last year but is still waiting for a home.

‘She is a fantastic, loving dog who will bowl you over with love and affection. The charity cannot understand why Amber has not yet found a home and can only assume it’s because of her appearance,’ said a Dogs Trust spokesman. ‘Amber is not a conventional looking Pit Bull so it might be the case that she doesn’t appeal to lovers of her breed.

‘With her adorable nature, Dogs Trust are very hopeful that this will be Amber’s last Valentine’s Day spent looking for love.

‘If you are looking for unconditional adoration, loyalty and someone who will always be there for you, look no further than the 140 rescue dogs at Dogs Trust who are all longing to be loved,’ said the spokesman.

Dogs Trust has been working in Ireland since 2005 and its mission is to bring an end to the destruction of stray and abandoned dogs through a national responsible dog ownership campaign, including a subsidised neutering and micro-chipping campaign and an education programme.

Both dogs and puppies are in the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, awaiting a permanent home.

‘We have fabulous characters’