Central London witnessed a heartwarming spectacle of festive cheer this weekend as more than one hundred dogs, clad in colourful Christmas jumpers, took part in a special parade to Buckingham Palace.
The event, now in its second year, is fast becoming a beloved capital tradition. The Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade was held on Saturday, 29th November 2025, and successfully raised money for two animal welfare organisations.
Paws for a Cause: The Charities Behind the Parade
The festive walkies was more than just a fun day out; it had a profound mission at its heart. The funds raised will support the vital work of ZEM Rescues, which saves dogs from Greece, and Slaughterhouse Survivors, an organisation dedicated to rescuing dogs from the dog meat trade in China.
Co-organiser May Wong, 66, who arranged the festivities with Teresa Keohane, emphasised the event's core message. "We wanted to celebrate them, because dogs aren’t just for Christmas but forever, and we wanted to get the message out to everyone," she said. "There are so many rescues who will never know what Christmas is. We need to give them a second chance."
Ms Wong's own dog, Lulu"very timid" initially, but she has since blossomed alongside her adopted brother, George, a street dog from Hungary.
Inspiring Stories of Rescue and Recovery
The parade was filled with touching stories of resilience. Attendees Helen Lomax, 53, and her husband Graham, 49, brought two of their rescue dogs. Their five-year-old poodle and bichon frise mix, Zoe, was adopted from China through Eleventh Hour after her previous owners abandoned her when she was disabled by a car accident.
Now a regular visitor to a brain injury unit, the "very chilled" Zoe stole the show, winning first place in the International Rescue best-dressed competition with her wheels decorated to look like Santa's sleigh.
The couple's other dog, Roo, an eight-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier mix, was likely dumped due to medical issues after being bred as a coursing dog. Mrs Lomax urged potential pet owners: "Don’t overlook the disabled dogs, because they have an incredible life. There’s a lot of misconception about rescue dogs that they can’t be trained, they can be trained."
This sentiment was echoed by other participants, reinforcing the powerful "adopt, don't shop" message.
A New Leash on Life
Lisa Hanley, 59 from south east London, met her dog Ash two and a half years ago while holidaying in Turkey. He was living on a beach at the time. "I fell in love with him," she said, and made arrangements to bring him to the UK.
"He’s been amazing since day one," Ms Hanley recounted. "He was scared of a lot of things like the stairs, the floor, the shops. Now, he drags me in Pets at Home. I couldn’t imagine not having him in my life." For the parade, Ash wore a special red jumper commemorating his Turkish origins.
Melissa Cunningham, 39, shared the story of her French bulldog, Bao, who was adopted just over a year ago after being used as a stud dog by a breeder. "All dogs just want to love you," she said. "I think it’s important to rescue first. It might not be the perfect looking dog, but they’re still going to love and they are still going to be the companion that you want."
The event, complete with a best Christmas jumper competition and a group photo outside the Palace, successfully combined festive fun with a powerful advocacy for rescue dogs, proving that every dog deserves a loving home.
