Reality TV star and Strictly Come Dancing alum Vicky Pattinson has issued an emotional plea to her followers this festive season, urging them to consider the lifelong responsibility of dog ownership before seeking a 'perfect puppy' for Christmas.
A Message of Experience, Not Judgement
Sharing photos of her own dogs, Max and Milo, on Instagram, the 38-year-old emphasised that pets are "for life" and not toys or temporary presents. She candidly admitted that she and her husband, Ercan Ramadan, "underestimated" the commitment initially, speaking from a place of hard-won experience rather than criticism.
Vicky detailed the realities of dog parenting, from two daily walks in all weathers to early morning and late-night toilet trips, accidents, and occasional destruction. "It is all so worth it!!!" she wrote, but stressed the need for potential owners to be fully prepared for the "huge commitment".
The Adoption Alternative
Central to Pattinson's message was a powerful advocacy for adoption. She revealed that she and Ercan, 32, became 'dog parents' to Milo in 2021 and adopted Max a year later from rescue centres, calling it "the best thing" they have ever done.
She challenged the false narrative that rescue dogs are "broken or undeserving of love," explaining that rehoming centres across the UK are "bursting at the seams with incredible animals" who have often been let down by humans and deserve a second chance.
A Heartbreaking Post-Christmas Reality
The former Geordie Shore star ended her post with a sobering warning about the fate of many Christmas puppies. She expressed her "complicated" and "heartbreaking" feelings knowing that shelters are hit with a "new wave of 'Christmas puppies'" every January and February.
This influx, she explained, comes from people who hadn't fully considered the responsibility, leading to dogs being abandoned when they grow, have accidents, or don't fit seamlessly into a lifestyle.
Her heartfelt post coincided with personal festive joy, as Vicky also revealed her husband had replaced her engagement ring, which was stolen from a train in Newcastle in 2024 just weeks before their wedding. The couple, who tied the knot in two ceremonies in 2024, enjoyed a cosy date night where Ercan gifted her a new oval-cut diamond ring.
