Deciding to bring home a dog shouldn’t be an easy choice. They require large amounts of time, attention and care. Infatuated with the puppy eyes and personalities, people lose interest as the puppy matures into a full-grown dog. If they are loyal to us, why aren’t we loyal back?

 Pets at home made a pledge to stop selling rabbits from Good Friday until Easter Monday to help prevent more animals from being abandoned after the holiday. Maybe shelters or breeders should reduce the rehoming of dogs during the festive season or at least do extensive research on the family beforehand. No dog should form a bond with a new owner only to be given to a shelter a few weeks later. Rather than acting on impulse, new owners should be confident they can adapt their schedule to their new pooch. Many things that are harmful to animals are left in reach like Christmas lights, ornaments and cables leading to an unsafe environment for a timid dog unfamiliar with its surroundings.

Animals are beginning to stay in shelters for longer and longer with dogs becoming the most abandoned animal each year according to the RSPCA. Adopting during the Christmas season makes it harder for puppies to settle into a new environment as everyone is busy doing their shopping or preparing for Christmas day.  As the buying of the dog may not be expensive, people should be fully informed about the price associated with having a new canine.

Shelters have long waiting lists and are setting up food banks due to the spike of people wanting to give up their dog. As an owner who is responsible for a dog, you should want to do everything in your power to keep your dog for the rest of their life. Like the saying goes “dogs may be just a small part of our lives, but to them, we are their whole life”. They don’t deserve to live the majority of their life in a cage as one day they’re not wanted anymore. 

Adopting an animal will help reduce dress places on overwhelmed shelters as well as giving a dog a second chance at life. If you choose to buy from breeders, make sure that they are trustworthy as backyard breeders may sell puppies with health problems. When an owner finds out that their furry friend has medical issues that they weren’t prepared for or able to cater for, then it increases the risk of the animal being abandoned. By preventing people from getting surprise pets for Christmas, as many times their new home will not be able to care for them adequately, then hopefully there should be a decrease in canines being returned after the Christmas season ends.

Puppies are just like babies, they require food, water and attention as they cannot care for themselves. You wouldn’t abandon a baby so you shouldn’t abandon a dog. Dogs should be an additional family member that receives a lifetime supply of love. 

Dogs deserve more than to be thrown out like they are Christmas rubbish.