Celebrities help launch Dogs Trust campaign
Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, which has a rehoming centre in Ilfracombe has teamed up with some of the nation’s most famous faces to launch their iconic campaign, ‘A Dog is For Life, Not Just For Christmas’, following a year of ludicrous excuses offered up by dog owners when giving up their pets to Dogs Trust.
Staff at Dogs Trust Ilfracombe were particularly surprised to hear a member of the public explain they no longer wanted their dog because he wasn’t housetrained.
The line-up of celebrity dog lovers includes Sky News’s Eamonn Holmes, Sherlock’s Amanda Abbington, Great British Bake Off’s Mel Giedroyc and comedian Jon Richardson whose shocked reactions were captured as they read out the farcical and sometimes bizarre excuses given by members of the public who no longer want their dogs.
Whilst the excuses are laughable and delivered with a comedic panache, the serious undertone cannot be ignored as the stars paused to reflect on the inexcusable and throwaway attitude some people have towards dog ownership. The charity’s staff have recorded the most preposterous excuses heard over the last twelve months, including:
• He’s too perfect
• The fence was hit by lightning so we took it as a sign that we shouldn’t have a dog
• He kept sitting in front of the TV when the football was on
• He got into the fridge and he ate the banoffee pie
• He chewed my model helicopter
• He kept chewing the grandchildren’s nappies
• All he does is sleep
• He doesn’t bark
• He keeps pulling washing off the washing line
• He looked different after we walked him in the rain
• He won’t fit in my handbag or wear the clothes I bought him
• He kept distracting the children from revising for their GCSEs
• He kept pulling the noses off the children’s toys
• He’s scared of tin foil
• He doesn’t pay any attention to the baby
• He kept eating our apples and pooped on the very expensive rug
Dogs Trust Ilfracombe Rehoming Centre Assistant Manager, Karen Blacker, explains: “Sadly, there are many understandable reasons why people have to give up their dogs and we appreciate that circumstances can change beyond their control, however we cannot fathom that dogs should lose their security, comfort and home for such reasons they ‘ate the banoffee pie’ or ‘sat in front of the TV when the football was on.”
We are immensely grateful to the star-studded cast who so enthusiastically volunteered their time to help Dogs Trust share such a valuable message, it is heartwarming to see how much they care about dog welfare. After nearly 40 years of highlighting our iconic slogan, “A dog is For Life Not Just For Christmas”, we hope that with their help, we can help even more even people understand that dogs should be treated as valued family members, not fashion accessories, trends or commodities that can be cast off when their appeal wears thin.”
British singer-songwriter Ella Eyre said: “Being involved in this Dogs Trust Christmas campaign has really opened my eyes. I can’t believe how ridiculous some of the reasons that people give up their dogs can be! Hopefully this video will raise awareness of responsible dog ownership, and spread the important message that a ‘Dog is For Life, Not Just for Christmas’.”
TV personality and Dogs Trust Patron Eamonn Holmes says: "I had no idea how powerful the slogan ‘A Dog is for Life’ was until I went out there and brought our Dogs Trust rescue dog Maggie into my life. Now she is for life, but she also changed my life in so many ways. “
Television presenter Mel Giedroyc said: “As a dog lover, to hear some of the downright bonkers reasons why people give up their dogs shocks and saddens me. Hopefully this video will highlight how important responsible dog ownership is.”
