Shoppers emerging from the St Stephen’s Green shopping centre in Dublin today were met by the sight of eight people lying in body bags covered in blood.
The staged scene was designed to remind people about thousands of dogs and puppies who are put down in pounds around the country every year.
John Carmody of the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) appealed to shoppers to adopt a dog from a pound rather than buying one from a breeder, saying every time a dog is purchased the chance of survival for a dog in a pound becomes slim.
"Every year thousands of dogs and puppies are given as presents at Christmas. Most people would not be aware that over 5000 dogs are put to sleep, literally killed in Irish pounds every year because there's simply not enough good homes for these animals," he said.
"We're trying to get the message out there that if you're looking to give an animal a loving caring permanent home please take them out of a pound. Adopt and don't buy."
One of the ARAN protesters was injured when a metal pole was caught by a gust of wind and fell on her while she was lying in a body bag. She received medical attention for a swollen eye.
Figures from the Department of the Environment show that 5244 dogs were put down in pounds across the country in 2010.
Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA said the charity sees a lot of abandonment in late January and early February.
"A puppy comes into a house at Christmas and it's fantastic. The kids are on holidays and are around to play with the puppy and entertain it. Then they go back to school, vaccinations fall due and money is required," she said.
"People don't put thought into it. Can you afford vet bills and food for the dog if you lose your job? We are in a recession and that's the reality."
Donations to the charity are down by 20 per cent since the recession began, according to Ms Kerins.
Brendan Hughes, an inspector with the ISPCA, said the number of people surrendering dogs to shelters is up 20 per cent this year.
"There's an awful lot of people who just cannot afford to feed their dogs anymore or to pay veterinary bills. Shelters are full and donations have dried up. I would say donations are down 80 per cent since the height of the boom," he said.
He sees a spike in abandonment in late March and early April each year "when the cute puppy bought as a Christmas present becomes bigger, more boisterous and needs more exercise."
"It becomes too much for people. They realise they can't go on holiday without paying for the dog to go into kennels for example so they dump the dog."