The DSPCA has said that the continued surrender of older dogs is "heartbreaking".
The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has urged the public not to abandon their older pets as part of a new campaign.
The animal welfare charity shared a video to its social media channels which features older animals that the DSPCA are caring for after they were surrendered by their former owners.
Giving a voice to these pets, the DSPCA writes:
"I'd go home with you in a heartbeat because you are my whole world.
"There are people around me who I don't know. I'm scared and I'm frightened. I was yours for so many years and I tried to be good every day.
"All I wanted was for you to love me and to be kind to me and now I'm here. Why don't I matter to you anymore?"
The campaign, which is titled 'The Old, The Forgotten', sheds a light on the number of dogs and cats who end up spending their later years in the care of the shelter.
https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=369207481670926
The DSPCA continues:
"This last year we have seen so many older pets ending up in our shelter. Surrendered, abandoned, replaced with a younger puppy, neglected and found in awful conditions.
"It's incredibly heartbreaking for us to see as we know just how much pets love their owners and how much their world has been turned upside down through no fault of their own."
The animal welfare charity then pointed to their Christmas appeal, and asked the public for help in supporting it.
Just last week, the charity assisted the Gardaí in seizing over 30 puppies and dogs that were being kept in "horrendous conditions" at a property in Dublin's Citywest.
