Over 300 dogs given up after Christmas as charity urges people to consider if they are 'dog ready'

Ottoline Spearman

Over 300 people have contacted a charity to give up their dog since Christmas.

Dogs Trust is warning that many people are rushing into owning a dog, without realising the amount of commitment involved.

The charity said that the number of people contacting them to give up their dog has increased by 26 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Of the 2,800 requests received by the charity last year, 20 per cent came from families that no longer had the time to care for their dog.

27 per cent admitted they could not keep the animal due to unwanted behaviours, which the charity said could stem from insufficient training.

Ruby, a one-year-old Labrador cross, came into the charity's care last year when her owner could no longer keep her due to a change in work commitments. Dogs Trust placed Ruby in a foster home, which ended up being a permanent arrangement.

The charity has devised a quiz to help future dog owners understand the responsibility. It outlines the time commitment required, expenses, and training necessities.

Paulina Padlo of Dogs Trust Ireland said: “We are still being contacted by too many people who have welcomed a dog into their life but unfortunately can no longer care for them. Of course, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances in these cases, but for many, they simply may not have considered how much their life was going to change when they brought their dog home.

"Dogs are social creatures and want to spend time with their families, they also need continuous training for mental stimulation and to help them become well-rounded dogs, plus a whole lot of love and care."

The quiz is available here.