LURCHER HANNAH’S A STAR OF CHRISTMAS ADVERT
HANNAH WILL APPEAR ON CINEMA SCREENS THIS CHRISTMAS
MEET Hannah, a rising star of the screen.
The four and a half month old Lurcher puppy, previous resident at Dogs Trust West London is the star of the charity’s newly launched Christmas ad with a difference, landing the very important message that ‘dogs aren’t Christmas presents.’
As Black Friday – one of the busiest shopping days of the year – arrived last week, one charity bucked the trend and asked people not to buy something very particular this Christmas. Dogs Trust, the charity behind the famous ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas®’ slogan, has launched a funny new ad to demonstrate this.
The film has been spurred by the fact that every year the charity takes in dogs who were unwanted Christmas presents.
Last year alone Dogs Trust West London had over 330 calls from people wanting to handover their dogs from Christmas Day through to the end of March, with many of these being Christmas presents that haven’t lived up to expectations, or given up once their owners realised the responsibilities of dog ownership.
In the comical ad we see actors treating Christmas presents like dogs – taking a games console for a walk, throwing a ball for a hairdryer, trying to get a drone to sit and saying goodnight to a bottle of perfume.
The scene then switches to a woman trying to wrap Hannah as a present before TV presenter Mel Giedroyc explains in a voiceover that ‘Christmas presents aren’t dogs! And dogs aren’t Christmas presents. A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.’
Mel, who has her own rescue dog Juno, said:“It’s bonkers that people are still buying dogs as Christmas presents. I hope this ad helps people realise the craziness of giving a bouncing, playful, pooing puppy as a present.
“Getting a dog needs to be a much-pondered decision. They’re gorgeous and loveable but bloody hard work. Remember ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas®’!” Richard Moore rehoming centre manager at Dogs Trust West London, explained further: “Every year – even on Christmas Day itself – we have dogs brought to us from people who have received them as presents and don’t want them. “Once the initial Christmas sparkle has worn off and people realise the huge commitment it takes to own a dog, they come into our care.
“It’s heart-breaking for us to see when it could so easily have been prevented.”
He added: “We’re so proud that our very own Hannah is the star of this year’s Christmas advert!.
“She came to us at the end of October as a nervous young girl, and is now enjoying life in her forever home with the Russell family from Feltham.”
He finished: “Dogs are a wonderful addition in the right circumstances, but before bringing one into our homes we all need to think whether they are right for our lifestyles and, whether we can give them a home for life.
“Christmas presents aren’t dogs, and dogs aren’t Christmas presents. It’s that simple.”
The Christmas ad will be shown in cinemas around the country and online from November 23.
The charity is urging people to share the film online and help spread the word.
Christmas presents aren’t dogs and dogs aren’t Christmas presents. Richard Moore rehoming centre manager