Ireland’s largest dog charity, Dog’s Trust, kicked off their Christmas campaign this week with a series of photos that made a big impact on hundreds of commuters. Their annual “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” campaign 2014 saw 51 cardboard cut-outs of dogs placed along the banks of Dublin’s north canal. Unfortunately, the number 51 was not a random selection but instead, represented the 51 phone calls that the Trust received in the space of just one day in January as members of the public tried to give up their unwanted dogs. Along with the cut outs of the dogs were print outs of the reasons people had given the Trust for why they could not keep the dog. Ranging from “he’s too old” to “we don’t love the dog anymore” and “the honeymoon period is over”, the campaign was a heart-wrenching sight for hundreds of people across the city today. With over 1,000 abandoned dogs coming through the charity’s door each year the campaign is a stark reminder of the number of dogs that get forgotten about in Ireland. “We wanted to try something a little different for our Christmas Campaign this year in order to attract the public’s attention and hopefully spread our charity’s message of ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ throughout Ireland,” said Dogs Trust Executive Director, Mark Beazley. “We really wish to encourage those thinking of getting a dog to take due consideration at any time of the year and especially when buying a dog for Christmas. Very often homes can be quire frenetic during the festive season and it may not be the best time for a dog, especially a puppy, to be introduced into an environment where the normal routine is disrupted." “We would encourage those who have made the decision to get a dog to consider adopting for your local rescue centre, local pound and Dogs Trust, in the New Year when the Christmas festivities have died down.” For more advice on buying a dog and what to consider before you do it, check out Dogs Trust Ireland. The campaign got a massive reaction on Twitter this week.

@AislingRiordan We launched our thought provoking Christmas campaign this morning. Have a look http://t.co/4GOiubUm4b pic.twitter.com/GRTtk7MbVq — Dogs Trust Ireland (@DogsTrust_IE) November 19, 2014

 

@taisling @LanaReddy One of many excuses, "My kids didn't like the colour" is another! — Dogs Trust Ireland (@DogsTrust_IE) November 19, 2014

 

@DogsTrust_IE Dogs trust christmas campaign #canaldogs think before you get a pet woof woof woofles pic.twitter.com/xFCUuTI3gU — Biskit Otters (@BiskitStepsOut) November 19, 2014

 

#canaldogs Think before you get a pet, it's a life time commitment. Excuses are not good enough they deserve better pic.twitter.com/Hv2zItBPPu — KELLY DONEGAN (@KellyDonegan3) November 19, 2014

 

#canaldogs from @DogsTrust_IE is after breaking my heart. Doggies deserve better than that. :( @LanaReddy — Aisling Twomey (@taisling) November 19, 2014

 

#CanalDogs are heartbreaking. Please think before getting a dog. Very effective campaign by @DogsTrust_IE — Clodagh Murray (@ClodaghM_) November 19, 2014