News story

A Winter's Tail

Caring for your pets this Christmas.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Lord de Mauley TD
• Published: 18 December 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Thinking of getting a dog or cat as a gift this Christmas? They can be lovable companions but they’re also a major responsibility.

Every year 110,000 stray dogs are picked up, some of them having been abandoned as unwanted Christmas gifts.

And if you’re already a pet owner, there’s also potential hazards in the home to look out for this winter.

These messages are at the heart of a social media campaign by Defra to raise awareness of the need to ensure the welfare of our pets over the Christmas period.

Please pass the #winterstail tips on to your family and friends to help our pets have as safe and happy a Christmas as the rest of us.

Photo credits: Lewis Elliott, Dogs Trust

Published 18 December 2013