The Dogs Trust's Christmas Advert Holds A Heartbreaking Message

Dogs Trust just released its Christmas advert, and it'll make you hug your dog extra tight this evening.

Released on Wednesday (6th November), the emotional advert urges people not to buy a pooch just for Christmas without considering the lifelong commitment.

The advert starts with a fun Christmas dinner table setting, as a family dine and enjoy the company of animated dog made from bottle corks, Corkie.

Heartwarming scenes - soundtracked by Sam Smith's 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' - show the family playing with their dog as he tugs on a cracker, pokes himself with a sprig of holly and jumps in a gravy puddle.

Dogs Trust)

The family fawn over their pooch with cries of 'Awww' and 'He's so cute!', before putting him to bed. But when morning comes, Corkie is swept off the table and into the bin with all of the other rubbish.

The next scene shows a real-life terrier pooch left in a dumpster - a sad reality for many abandoned pets.

The metaphor is a strong one - the advert comes as the charity reveals searches for puppies soar by 44 per cent in December while searches for 'get a dog' increase by 27 per cent.

Dogs Trust)

Stats showed pugs were the most sought-after breed in the run-up to Christmas, followed by Rottweilers and French Bulldogs.

Luckily, the advert ends with the terrier being rescued and taken into Dog's Trust, but this is sadly not the case for all dogs.

The charity's chief executive Owen Sharp said in a statement: "These figures show that people still think to buy a dog in the rush before Christmas.

"It's very easy to pick a puppy at the click of a button but dogs don't come with a gift receipt."

Dogs Trust)

He adds: "We take calls all-year-round from people who feel they have no choice but to give up their dog. It can be heart-breaking, even if an owner knows they are doing the right thing.

"Dog ownership is wonderful, and we aren't saying 'don't get a dog'. We're just asking that people are sure they are ready for the long-term commitment that comes with it."

The message? Maybe take a second to think before gifting someone a dog with a big red bow on this Christmas.

Topics: Christmas, Entertainment, TV and Film

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara is a freelance writer working for Tyla. After graduating with an English Lit and Media degree from the University of Sussex, Ciara held jobs at GLAMOUR and Yahoo Style before packing up for a solo travelling trip around South America.

@ciarasheppard