DOGS GIVEN AS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Early day motion 170, tabled 20 November 2006 by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative). Signed by 67 members.

That this House notes the Dogs Trust's famous slogan, A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas, which was created in 1978 by the charity's Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, at a time when thousands of people were buying puppies to give to family and friends as Christmas presents, resulting in puppies being abandoned in the New Year; recognises that despite many years of campaigning by the Dogs Trust, there still exists a problem of dogs being given as Christmas presents; further recognises that the Dogs Trust has seen that the most popular time of year for pups to be abandoned is at the start of the Easter holidays, when the pups who were given as Christmas presents have grown up to be big, boisterous dogs; further notes that the problem of dogs being given as Christmas presents is still a major concern, in a country where there were at least 117,000 stray and abandoned dogs taken in by local authorities last year; and wholeheartedly supports the Dogs Trust in its determination to ensure that one day all dogs are cared for by responsible owners, and have a home for life.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Conservative 16, Liberal Democrat 16, DUP 6, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.