Dogs Trust is urging the British public to remember the charity’s iconic slogan ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ after a year of bizarre reasons offered by people giving up their dog.
Their survey also revealed that one in ten people admit to buying or receiving a dog as a Christmas gift. The dog owning public also significantly underestimated the financial cost of dog ownership with 70% believing their dog will cost them less than the actual cost of £10,000 during its lifetime.
Dogs Trust received a call every five minutes (3,596 calls) from people looking to give up their dogs in the month following Christmas last year. Reasons over 2017 included:
- I won a free holiday and I couldn’t take my dogs with me
- I’m a vegetarian but he always wanted to eat meat
- I got him as a secret Santa present
- She was too friendly and wanted to greet every dog and human we met on a walk
- He was panting too much
- He didn’t like it when we played dress up
- She sleeps in her own bed all night – I thought she would want to sleep in my bed
Think carefully about what kind of dog will best suit you – how big is your family, and what kind of house do you live in? Have you owned a dog before? Do some research to make sure that the kind of dog you are looking for is well suited to your family and your everyday life. Find out more here
“I’m a vegetarian but he always wanted to eat meat”
Dogs Trust ‘Buyer advice’
Do…
- Ask to see Mum and pup together
- Visit your new pup more than once
- Get all your pup’s paperwork before going home
- Walk away if you are at all unsure
- Report suspicious sellers or breeders
- Take your puppy to your own vet for a health check asap
Don’t…
- Meet anywhere that isn’t the pup’s home
- Buy a pup from anyone who can supply various breeds on demand
- Buy a pup that looks too young/small or underweight
- Feel pressure to buy a puppy
- Buy a pup that you suspect has been illegally imported
* Dogs Trust commissioned survey by Atomik Research of over 2,000 UK dog owners
For more info on how to give a rescue dog a happy home, make sure to check out our Preloved guide here, as well as having a browse through all of our dog blogs!
