Another reason to dislike Game of Thrones: huskies are being abandoned

Record numbers of Siberian huskies and other wolf-like breeds are being abandoned each year, with the past five years seeing a 700 per cent rise, according to one of Britain’s leading animal charities.

They have become fashionable due to their prominence as the ‘direwolves’ in the popular fantasy series Game of Thrones, as well as appearing in the Twilight movies. The Blue Cross – which cares for sick and abandoned pets and has a dozen rehoming centres across the UK – said they were not the easiest breeds to care for.

Figures released by the charity reveal that 78 of the dogs were brought to its rehoming centres last year. In contrast, just 10 Siberian huskies and other similar breeds were abandoned in 2008, it said.

While a husky’s fur is ideal for keeping warm in the Arctic, people who are considering having one as a pet in this country need to be prepared to invest a lot of time in them. “Huskies and similar breeds might look like cuddly toys, but they are far from it as adults,” said Mandy Jones, head of rehoming at the Blue Cross. “Huskies were bred to live in cold climates and pull sleds, so they don’t enjoy living in centrally heated homes. It is very hard for the average pet owner to meet their very high exercise needs.”

First Hodor, and now this. Damn you Game of Thrones...