Campaigners urge would-be dog owners to adopt from shelters

Animal rights campaigners are urging the public not to buy dogs for Christmas, but to adopt from animal shelters.

The Animal Rights Action Group (ARAN) says that 5,267 dogs were killed in Irish pounds last year.

ARAN members will demonstrate on Dublin's Grafton street later to urge people not to buy puppies - and instead to look into adopting from local pounds.

"If people who bought dogs from breeders had to face the consequences right then and there, they would be more likely to do the right thing and adopt from an animal shelter instead," the group said.

"No matter how they do the math, buying an animal from a breeder adds up to killing a homeless animal in an animal shelter."

ARAN’s campaign will also visit Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Galway.