The slogan "a dog is for life, not just for Christmas" has been going strong for 27 years now.
The
slogan
``
a
dog
is
for
life
,
not
just
for
Christmas
''
has
been
going
strong
for
27
years
now
.
Dogs and cats have been popular Christmas gifts in the gifts in the UK and Europe for many years.
Dogs
and
cats
have
been
popular
Christmas
gifts
in
the
gifts
in
the
UK
and
Europe
for
many
years
.
But some people still haven't quite got the message.
But
some
people
still
have
n't
quite
got
the
message
.
The slogan still holds good.
The
slogan
still
holds
good
.
Some 105,000 dogs were rounded up by local government last year because they had been abandoned, many of them shortly after the festival season.
Some
105,000
dogs
were
rounded
up
by
local
government
last
year
because
they
had
been
abandoned
,
many
of
them
shortly
after
the
festival
season
.
The main reason given by owners for handing their dogs over to the Dogs Trust is that the dogs need more attention than they can give; behavioral problems and moving home are also reasons given.
The
main
reason
given
by
owners
for
handing
their
dogs
over
to
the
Dogs
Trust
is
that
the
dogs
need
more
attention
than
they
can
give
;
behavioral
problems
and
moving
home
are
also
reasons
given
.
But Eleanor Silk, the Trust's communications director, says, "It's often four or five months after Christmas, in early summer, when owners find that the dog has got too big and too active, or it hasn't been trained properly and has caused damage around the home."
But
Eleanor
Silk
,
the
Trust
's
communications
director
,
says
,
``
It
's
often
four
or
five
months
after
Christmas
,
in
early
summer
,
when
owners
find
that
the
dog
has
got
too
big
and
too
active
,
or
it
has
n't
been
trained
properly
and
has
caused
damage
around
the
home
.
''
In any case, some organizations that help pets are quick to point out that if you are serious about getting a puppy as a pet, Christmas is not the time to do it.
In
any
case
,
some
organizations
that
help
pets
are
quick
to
point
out
that
if
you
are
serious
about
getting
a
puppy
as
a
pet
,
Christmas
is
not
the
time
to
do
it
.
Puppies need to get used to their new surroundings, to be introduced to a routine, and to be looked after like small children.
Puppies
need
to
get
used
to
their
new
surroundings
,
to
be
introduced
to
a
routine
,
and
to
be
looked
after
like
small
children
.
It's hard to meet any of these needs at Christmas.
It
's
hard
to
meet
any
of
these
needs
at
Christmas
.
What's more, pulling a puppy out of a Christmas stocking in itself sends the wrong message to children.
What
's
more
,
pulling
a
puppy
out
of
a
Christmas
stocking
in
itself
sends
the
wrong
message
to
children
.
It encourages children to think of the puppy as a toy, rather than a responsibility.
It
encourages
children
to
think
of
the
puppy
as
a
toy
,
rather
than
a
responsibility
.
Appreciating what you're taking on with a dog can be a sobering realization.
Appreciating
what
you
're
taking
on
with
a
dog
can
be
a
sobering
realization
.
"For life" means thinking about the effect they'll have on your life.
``
For
life
''
means
thinking
about
the
effect
they
'll
have
on
your
life
.
It also infers you will need to care for the dog for its whole life.
It
also
infers
you
will
need
to
care
for
the
dog
for
its
whole
life
.
The slogan "a dog is for life, not just for Christmas" has been going strong for 27 years now. Dogs and cats have been popular Christmas gifts in the gifts in the UK and Europe for many years. But some people still haven't quite got the message.  The slogan still holds good. Some 105,000 dogs were rounded up by local government last year because they had been abandoned, many of them shortly after the festival season.  The main reason given by owners for handing their dogs over to the Dogs Trust is that the dogs need more attention than they can give; behavioral problems and moving home are also reasons given.  But Eleanor Silk, the Trust's communications director, says, "It's often four or five months after Christmas, in early summer, when owners find that the dog has got too big and too active, or it hasn't been trained properly and has caused damage around the home."  In any case, some organizations that help pets are quick to point out that if you are serious about getting a puppy as a pet, Christmas is not the time to do it. Puppies need to get used to their new surroundings, to be introduced to a routine, and to be looked after like small children. It's hard to meet any of these needs at Christmas. What's more, pulling a puppy out of a Christmas stocking in itself sends the wrong message to children. It encourages children to think of the puppy as a toy, rather than a responsibility.  Appreciating what you're taking on with a dog can be a sobering realization. "For life" means thinking about the effect they'll have on your life. It also infers you will need to care for the dog for its whole life.