GIVE socks, not dogs is the message as a leading charity changes its name this Christmas.
Darlington Dogs Trust has become the Socks Trust for the festive season in a bid to encourage people not to give dogs as presents.
The charity say many of the pets bought as Christmas gifts risk being abandoned or neglected by their new owners.
It is hoping to challenge the puppy purchasing craze by raising awareness of the reality of dog ownership.
Dogs Trust CEO Adrian Burder said: “There’s no denying that buying a puppy for a loved one can seem like an exciting purchase.
“Unfortunately, the realities that come with being a new dog-owner are often overlooked and we have seen how some people end up simply abandoning puppies.
“We want to avoid these unfortunate situations, we are encouraging prospective buyers to make sure they’ve thoroughly thought about the reality of dog ownership before they impulse buy.”
As part of its Give Socks Not Dogs campaign, Dogs Trust has released a line of dog themed socks.
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