‘The dog doesn’t match the sofa’ and other excuses

Dog owners have been getting rid of their pets with excuses such as “my dog doesn’t match the sofa” and “he isn’t as cute as when I first got him”.

British animal welfare charity Dogs Trust revealed the claims as it launched a campaign to drive home the message that potential owners should carefully consider what is involved before getting a pet.

George Paparakis, assistant manager at Dogs Trust’s Glasgow re-homing centre, said that while many people gave up pets for genuine reasons, it could be frustrating to see those who make excuses because they did not think it through properly in the first place.