Irish Examiner view: Dogs at Christmas

Pandemic pooches

16 week old crossbreed puppies Cara and Sophie who were surrendered to Dogs Trust Ireland at the weekend. This year the charity has received over 2,100 requests to take in and rehome dogs from members of the public, an 82% increase on 2020. Picture: Fran Veale

That annual staple, the phrase “Dogs are for life, not just for Christmas”, no longer just applies to the festive period. Covid-19 forced a necessary reworking so that the slogan now reads: “Dogs are for life, not just the pandemic.”

Pet ownership surged during the difficult months of lockdown, not just here but all around the world. In the early days of the first lockdown in 2020, global internet searches by would-be pet owners increased by some 250%; one metric that gauges the universal appeal of a pandemic pooch.