Dogs Trust Ireland has received more than 2,000 requests from owners wanting to give up their dogs so far in 2026 and expects to have more than 200 dogs in its care over Christmas, the charity said on 2 November as it launched its STAY Christmas appeal. The Dublin People report carrying the figures noted that Dogs Trust names behaviour support, dog walking and pet sitting among the alternatives it wants owners to try before surrendering.

The STAY appeal and the numbers behind it

The appeal was launched with the story of Wren, a one-year-old terrier cross found in an apartment with her six four-week-old puppies after being left alone for two weeks; a neighbour raised the alarm. The puppies were rehomed quickly, and Wren, who needed specialist care for anxiety, has since found a home.

Paulina Padlo, communications manager at Dogs Trust Ireland, said "abandonment is never the answer" and that the charity "simply would not be able to be there for them without help from our supporters". The charity's appeal page puts the cost of caring for one dog at €10 a day and says €40 covers a veterinary check-up for a new arrival.

The 2,000-plus figure follows the charity's July census, reported by the Irish Examiner, which counted more than 1,200 surrender requests by early July. That census named housing, behaviour, money and time as the main reasons, said 42% of last year's requests involved adolescent dogs, and quoted Padlo: "Many landlords do not allow dogs."

Why people give up dogs: housing, behaviour, money, time

Housing is the fastest-growing pressure, with Dogs Trust telling the Irish Examiner that owners can spend months searching for a landlord who accepts a dog; the charity campaigns for better access to pet-friendly rented accommodation. Behavioural problems in adolescent dogs account for a large share of requests, which is why the charity runs targeted training programmes.

Veterinary costs were described as a major concern in the census, with some households also struggling to pay for specialist diets. Life changes such as a new baby or a return to full-time work leave owners feeling they lack time, Padlo said: "They didn't realise dogs need more than walking."

After Halloween: fireworks, strays and microchips

A Dogs Trust Ireland study found 48% of dogs struggle to stay calm when fireworks can be heard, the Irish Times reported on 19 October. Padlo's advice: "Creating a safe, cosy space at home, closing curtains and windows, and offering enrichment activities can all help."

The Irish Blue Cross told the paper that frightened pets may bolt and go missing, so microchip details, including phone number and address, should be up to date and ID tags attached to the collar. Vet Pete Wedderburn, writing in Dublin People on 22 October, said vets "very commonly around Halloween" see animals that strayed after fireworks, and that microchipping is a legal requirement for all dogs in Ireland but not yet for cats.

Dogs Trust's free Sound Blanket, nine masking tracks made with the University of Salford, is on YouTube and Spotify; 99% of dogs tolerated it in the charity's testing. Wedderburn's practical tips for the fireworks season: walk dogs in daylight, keep cats in after 3pm, play music indoors and stay calm yourself, because frantic reassurance raises a pet's anxiety.

Winter care and the Christmas rush

Shorter days mean more dogs walked in the dark, so reflective collars and leads, towel-drying after wet walks, and checking paws for grit and salt are the basic jobs. Older dogs and short-coated breeds feel the cold; a coat and a bed off the floor cost little.

Christmas is the peak for dog walkers, pet sitters and boarding kennels, and Dogs Trust itself expects 200-plus dogs in its care over the holidays. If you are travelling, home sitters and walkers are the services the charity points owners to as alternatives to giving a dog up.

What it means for you

If a dog's behaviour is pushing you towards surrender, Dogs Trust's own message is to try a behaviourist, a walker or a sitter first, or talk to your vet or a welfare organisation. For Christmas, book a dog walker, pet sitter or kennel in November rather than December, check the sitter has insurance and references, and ask how they handle fireworks or a dog that bolts.

After Halloween, update your dog's microchip details and tag now, and if a dog is still showing fear of bangs, a trainer can start desensitisation with the Sound Blanket tracks. You can find dog walkers, pet sitters, groomers and trainers near you on Locufy.

For providers: quote Christmas walking, sitting and boarding now with clear dates, deposits and cancellation terms, and state your insurance and whether you take anxious or adolescent dogs. Behaviour and training enquiries track the surrender figures, so say plainly what a first consultation costs and what a six-week course covers.

Key dates

• 2 November 2026: Dogs Trust Ireland STAY Christmas appeal launched
• November: book Christmas dog walking, pet sitting and boarding
• Christmas week: 200-plus dogs expected in Dogs Trust Ireland's care

Sources

• Dublin People — Dog and her six puppies abandoned in apartment for two weeks as Dogs Trust Ireland launches urgent Christmas appeal
• Dogs Trust Ireland — Make STAY a promise this Christmas
• Irish Examiner — 'Love alone isn't enough': Dogs Trust census reveals the pressures of keeping dogs in Ireland
• The Irish Times — Pet owners urged to be wary of firework noise as Halloween approaches
• Dublin People — Keeping pets safe this Halloween

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