Celebrities join forces to warn 'A dog is still for life, not just for Christmas®’.

Dogs Trust’s famous slogan was created in 1978 but is still as relevant today.

When Dogs Trust’s Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, invented the famous slogan (A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas®) in response to the staggering number of dogs abandoned in the months following Christmas each year, she had no idea that the catchphrase would still hold true nearly 30 years later.

It’s estimated that every Christmas £1.2bn is spent on unwanted gifts*, and around 3million tonnes of waste** is produced, and Dogs Trust is urging people to make sure dogs aren’t a part of this. Despite decades of Dogs Trust campaigning against dogs being given as gifts at Christmas time, each year hundreds of dogs and puppies are still presented as gifts. Many dogs are subsequently abandoned when the novelty wears off and their owner realises just how much work and commitment is involved in caring for them.

The charity’s Christmas campaign aims to raise awareness of the consequences of treating dogs as gifts or toys. Every year hundreds of thousands of children plead for the latest fad or top toy on the market, only to discard them a few weeks after Christmas when the novelty wears off.

The charity is asking everyone to support its Christmas message, and has produced a special A Dog is For Life, Not Just for Christmas® car sticker, available by contacting Dogs Trust on 020 7837 0006.

Celebrity dog-lovers across the UK have jumped at the chance to lend their support to Dogs Trust:

TV Presenter Dermot O Leary
“I would never, ever, think of buying a dog as a present at Christmas. I have supported Dogs Trust for many years and find it really sad that hundreds of dogs are abandoned post-Christmas after the novelty factor wears off. Please don’t buy a dog as a present unless you have really thought about what it will mean – for you, and for the dog. A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas®”
 
Actor Anthony Head
“You really need to think before getting a dog. Not only that but reputable breeders won’t sell dogs in the run up to Christmas – those that do will probably be selling dogs that have come from puppy farms and because of this they will be disadvantaged – it is likely they will have health and behaviour problems. Please don’t let this year’s Christmas present become a new year’s resolution that will break your child’s heart.”

TV Presenter Paul O Grady
‘Having a dog is a big commitment and a lot of work so you need to think very seriously before getting one - but if you give them loads of love and care they will be loyal and loving just like my Buster, Louis and Olga! Just remember, A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas®.’

Fashion designer Bruce Oldfield
‘Dogs or puppies should not be thought of as fashion accessories or given as trendy presents, as everyone knows fashions change. Taking on a dog is a huge responsibility and I would never consider buying a dog as a Christmas present, which is why I am supporting Dogs Trust’s ‘A Dog is for Life’ campaign’

Model & Actress Lisa B
“Deciding to have a dog in your life is a very serious thing. It takes responsibility, thoughtfulness and caring. It involves training and can be time consuming on a par with having a child. It is something that depends on you for love, food, exercise, it’s general life necessities. I believe a person should understand this before they consider taking on a pet as animals have feelings too although sadly without the ability to express them. Although most people’s intentions when giving a pet are good they don’t take into account the big picture and often people can’t cope with the responsibility, leaving dogs or pets to be abandoned. A pet should never be a gift, it should be a well thought out choice by the person who will be caring for them.”

Actress Joanna Taylor
‘Our 3 dogs bring Danny [footballer Danny Murphy] and me so much happiness and love and it is so upsetting to think that if they had been bought by someone as a thoughtless Christmas present their lives might have been very different. Without Dogs Trust so many dogs would stay homeless.  Wouldn't it be much better to wait until after Christmas and if having a dog still seems like a good idea, take a trip down there and give a good home to one of the poor puppies whose life was given the same respect as a toy that became boring.  Please, please think carefully about whether you can cope with the huge demands a dog makes on your life as it really is true that A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas®’.

TV Presenter Wendy Turner-Webster
‘You’d have to be barking mad to buy a dog as a Christmas present! It’s a ruff deal for the dog and I’ll hit the woof if I hear loads of people do it this year! How about a Donny Osmond CD instead… Puppy Love?’

Case Study – What a difference a year makes, for Charlie.
 
 
Mr O’Brien says; “Charlie has been the most amazing dog. When we heard about his background we knew we had to welcome him into our family. He has so much love to give considering he really hasn’t had the best start in life. It makes us so sad to think that someone could cruelly disregard such a wonderful puppy at such a young age. We hope we have been able to reassure him that not all people are bad and that he is truly one of the family; an absolutely beautiful dog and we would not be without him.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

* Oxfam Study, 2005
** Waste Watch and Waste Online.

For further press information, images or interview requests, please contact:
Claire Duke, Dogs Trust press office 020 7833 7616 claire.duke@dogstrust.org.uk
Sharon Hatt, Dogs Trust press office 020 7833 7620 sharon.hatt@dogstrust.org.uk
Sophie Collins, Dogs Trust press office 020 7833 7613 sophie.collins@dogstrust.org.uk
Out of hours press office mobile:  07768 616 280

Or visit our online press office at www.dogstrust.org.uk

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity. It cares for over 12,500 dogs every year and has 15 Dogs Trust Rehoming Centres across the UK, with two new centres opening in 2006 in West London and Glasgow.

Dogs Trust’s 2005 annual Stray Dog survey revealed that over 100,000 dogs were found stray, abandoned or unwanted last year, and almost 8,000 dogs were destroyed by local authorities simply because homes could not be found for them.