A Dog Is For Life

EDM number 463 in 2002-03, proposed by Andrew Rosindell on 07/01/2003.

That this House notes that the National Canine Defence League's famous slogan, A Dog is For Life, Not Just for Christmas, was created in 1978 by the charity's Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, at a time when thousands of people were buying puppies to give to family and friends as Christmas presents, resulting in puppies being abandoned in the New Year; recognises that despite many years of campaigning by the NCDL, there still exists a problem of dogs being given as Christmas presents; further recognises that the NCDL has seen that the most popular time of year for pups to be abandoned is at the start of the Easter holidays, when pups who were given as Christmas presents have grown up to be big, boisterous dogs; further notes the problem of dogs being given as Christmas presents is still a major concern, in a country where there were at least 117,000 strays and abandoned dogs taken in by local authorities last year; and wholeheartedly supports the NCDL in its determination to ensure that one day all dogs are cared for by responsible owners, and have a home for life.

This motion has been signed by a total of 70 MPs.