Dog and her six puppies abandoned in apartment for two weeks as Dogs Trust Ireland launches urgent Christmas appeal

Dogs Trust, Ireland's largest dog welfare charity, is appealing for urgent public support this Christmas as it prepares to care for over 200 dogs over the festive period, including dogs who have been abandoned.  

At the heart of the charity’s Christmas campaign, STAY, is a simple message: “Stay” is more than a command, it is a promise. Dogs rely on the people they trust to come back for them, care for them and be there when they need them. 

For Wren and her six, four-week-old puppies, that promise was broken. 

The one-year-old Terrier cross and her puppies were found abandoned in an apartment, where they had been left alone for two weeks. 

Thankfully, a concerned neighbour raised the alarm and the relevant authorities were able to enter the property and rescue the dogs before they were brought into the care of Dogs Trust Ireland. 

While Wren’s puppies quickly found loving homes, the experience had taken its toll on her. She struggled with anxiety and needed additional time, patience and specialist care to help her feel safe and build her confidence again. 

Fortunately, Wren eventually came out of her shell and has since found a loving home of her own. But Dogs Trust says many more dogs continue to need their help. 

The charity has received over 2,000 requests from people looking to surrender their dogs so far this year and is using the STAY campaign to highlight the devastating impact abandonment can have, while urging anyone considering getting a dog to think carefully about the lifelong commitment involved. 

Coined by Dogs Trust 48 years ago, the famous message “A Dog is for Life, not just for Christmas”, remains as relevant today as when it was first created. 

The charity is reminding people that bringing a dog into the family should never be an impulse decision and encouraging owners who are struggling to seek help as early as possible, stressing that abandonment should never be the answer. 

Paulina Padlo, Communications Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland said: ''It’s incredibly upsetting to think of Wren trying to care for six tiny puppies while they were left alone in an apartment for two weeks. No dog should ever be put in that position. 

We know circumstances can change and that owning a dog can sometimes become difficult, but abandonment is never the answer. We would always encourage people to seek help as early as possible, whether that’s support for behaviour-related issues, looking into dog-walking or pet-sitting services if time is a concern, or speaking to your vet or an animal welfare organisation if you feel you can no longer care for your dog. 

For dogs like Wren who have already been abandoned, the need for help is very real. Over 200 dogs are expected to spend Christmas in our care this year, and we simply would not be able to be there for them without help from our supporters.’’ 

With so many dogs relying on Dogs Trust Ireland this Christmas, the charity is asking the public to support the STAY campaign and help give abandoned dogs a safe, warm and loving place to stay for as long as they need it. 

Visit dogstrust.ie/Stay to help.