Dogs Trust reveals reasons dogs are given up
As part of its "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas" initiative, Dogs Trust has revealed some of the reasons that dogs have been handed into its care this year.
The charity has cared for over 16,000 dogs in the past year, across its 18 UK rehoming centres. Dogs of all shapes and sizes are being handed over, apparently for just being themselves.
Among the case studies is four-year old terrier Kirk, handed to the charity's Harefield centre in west London because his owners felt he got too excited for walks. Dogs Trust Canterbury are also rehoming two chihuahuas whose owners said didn't fit in with their party lifestyle.
Some of the other bizarre reasons include:
• “My dog doesn’t look like what he did on the website”
• “The dog keeps barking at butterflies”
• “My dog was too old and no longer brought me any joy”
• “It hurts my back to pick up my dog’s poop”
• “My dog doesn’t match the sofa”
• “I need a smaller dog”
• “My dog can’t walk on the lino in my house”
• “My dog keeps passing wind”
• “He wouldn’t fit in my handbag or wear the outfit I bought him”
• “My dog doesn’t like me” (after 24 hours)
• “He isn’t as cute as when I first got him”
• “He can’t do any tricks”
• “He snores really loudly”
• “He was too big for my house”
• “He keeps scaring the goldfish”
• “The dog gets too much attention”
• “He barked” (the potential adopters had only got to the carpark)
• “He smells, of dog”
Dogs Trust hope that those people considering buying a puppy this Christmas will think twice before they do so.
Clarissa Baldwin, Dogs Trust CEO, said: "This year sees the 34th anniversary of Dogs Trust’s iconic slogan ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ and sadly it’s as true today as when it was first coined. We see a number of dogs handed into our rehoming centres in the days and weeks following Christmas when the appeal of a cute puppy has worn off. It seems that people are still giving puppies as Christmas presents without considering the long term ramifications.
"Dogs can provide a world of happiness and enjoyment, and we urge anyone considering a new addition to the family to think it through properly and remember that the only place a puppy should be is on the outside of the wrapping paper, not inside it."
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
