Matthew has urged people to think carefully before taking on a dog, especially during the festive season. The online sale of pets means that impulse buying of animals has become an appealing option and the lure of a quick sale attracts many unscrupulous breeders, particularly during the Christmas period. Highlighting this issue Matthew visited a Dogs Trust centre with his own dog, Max, and his wife Claire.
Matthew said: “Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for over 16,000 abandoned and unwanted dogs a year through its nationwide network of 18 rehoming centres. I particularly wanted to visit at Christmas time to donate some food for the dogs and also see all the vital work that is being undertaken. It is terribly sad to see so many dogs without a home and I am pleased and grateful that so much is being done to help find new homes."
Laura Vallance, Public Affairs Manager at Dogs Trust said: “We are really pleased to be raising awareness about this important issue in Westminster. It is vital that dog ownership is seen as a long-term commitment and not just an impulse buy, especially at Christmas time. We see an influx of dogs being handed in to our rehoming centres over the Christmas period and we aim to curb this problem by educating people on responsible dog ownership and the potential risk of buying pets online on an impulse.”
For more information about Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.
Picture: Matthew with Claire, Max and Laura Vallance, Public Affairs Manager at Dogs Trust