A dogs charity in Whitstable had more than 150 calls from people wanting to hand over unwanted dogs last Christmas.

Dogs Trust Canterbury, based in Radfall Road in Chestfield, received the huge number of calls between Christmas Day and the end of March last year - largely from people who received dogs as Christmas presents.

Many felt their pet hadn't lived up to expectations, or wanted to give them up after they realised the responsibilities of dog ownership.

In the month after Christmas, Dogs Trust - whose famous 'a dog is for life, not just for Christmas' slogan is turning 40 this year - received a total of 4,827 calls to its contact centre from members of the public asking to hand over their dogs, averaging 138 calls per day.

Harriet Blaskett, rehoming centre manager at Dogs Trust Canterbury, said: "Every year - even on Christmas Day itself - we have dogs brought to us from people who have received them as presents and don’t want them.

"Once the initial Christmas sparkle has worn off and people realise the huge commitment it takes to own a dog, they come into our care.

"It’s heart-breaking for us to see when it could so easily have been prevented.

'Christmas presents aren’t dogs, and dogs aren’t Christmas presents' - Harriet Blaskett

"Dogs are a wonderful addition in the right circumstances, but before bringing one into our homes we all need to think whether they are right for our lifestyles and whether we can give them a home for life.

"Christmas presents aren’t dogs, and dogs aren’t Christmas presents. It’s that simple!”

This Black Friday - on one of the busiest shopping days of the year - Dogs Trust has launched an advert discouraging people from buying dogs as gifts.

The poignant advert shows actors treating Christmas presents like dogs - taking a games console for a walk, playing fetch with a hairdryer, trying to get a drone to sit and saying goodnight to a bottle of perfume.

The scene then switches to a woman trying to wrap a dog as a present before TV presenter Mel Giedroyc explains in a voiceover: "Christmas presents aren’t dogs - and dogs aren’t Christmas presents. A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.".

Giedroyc, who has her own rescue dog Juno, said: "It’s bonkers that people are still buying dogs as Christmas presents. I hope this ad helps people realise the craziness of giving a bouncing, playful, pooing puppy as a present.

"Getting a dog needs to be a much-pondered decision. They’re gorgeous and loveable but bloody hard work. Remember: a dog is for life, not just for Christmas."

Dogs Trust's Christmas advert will be shown in cinemas around the country and online from today.