Dogs Trust sees 82% increase in people wanting to give up their dogs

Following a high number of surrender requests this year, Dogs Trust is urging people to think about the lifelong commitment and responsibility that comes with owning a dog and to wait until after Christmas to consider taking on a new addition to the family.

Dogs Trust say they received 2,155 requests this year from members of the public asking the charity to take in their dogs in for rehoming.

This figure represents an 82% increase on 2020 when dogs were in huge demand.

The most common reason provided for people wanting to relinquish their dog was due to behavioural issues.

16 week old crossbreed puppies Cara and Sophie who were surrendered to Dogs Trust Ireland at the weekend.

The charity says it is ‘particularly concerned’ where dogs are being sourced with the prevalence of puppy farming in Ireland, particularly since the beginning of the pandemic when the demand for dogs saw prices soar into the thousands for puppies being sold online.

Ciara Byrne Head of Communications at Dogs Trust Ireland explains: “We are pleading with the public not to purchase puppies in the run up to Christmas. Sadly, this is the most lucrative time of year for puppy farmers, and we know genuine dog lovers don’t want to fuel this vile trade. It’s not just the puppy that you buy that’s affected, it’s the parents of the puppies that are left behind in often appalling conditions that suffer the most and that’s why we launched our End Puppy Farming campaign in November. We want to show that the public wants to see an end to the horrors these poor dogs endure daily, all in the name of profit.”

16 week old crossbreed puppies who were surrendered to Dogs Trust Ireland at the weekend

Becky Bristow Executive Director at Dogs Trust Ireland continues: “We understand that not every family is in a position to adopt a dog or puppy and we also understand there are reputable dog breeders. However, due to the nature of the puppy farming industry it is extremely difficult to buy a puppy responsibly at present. Advertisements of cute puppies online in home environments are often a smokescreen and the same photos are often used repeatedly. If you are considering getting a dog, please visit our website for advice.”

With over 1,000 abandoned dogs coming into the care of the charity on an annual basis and thousands more the charity cannot possibly take in; people are still taking on the responsibility of dog ownership without enough consideration of what it really entails. Instead of buying a puppy this Christmas, you can sponsor a dog instead. You can save lives and give abandoned Irish dogs the second chance if life that they deserve so much.

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