Head Dog Trainer and Founder of Wanderdog, Kay's rescue dog named Lucy in a park in Southwark.
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More than one million pets are currently without a home in the UK, according to the first global pet homelessness index.
The index, carried out by Mars Petcare, found the reasons for the abandonment of pets included behavioural problems due to a lack of training and being unable to keep up with the financial costs of ownership.
It comes after a charity claimed dog owners who bought puppies during lockdown are disguising their pets as strays so rescue centres would take them in.
According to research, dog ownership has risen by an average of 84% across London since the start of lockdown. Southwark accounted for the biggest rise in lockdown puppies, increasing by 140%.
‘Stop and think’ about life from the dog’s perspective”
Head Dog Trainer and Founder of Wanderdog in Southwark, Kay, has said that now puppies bought during lockdown are becoming adolescents, people cannot handle them.
She added: “We’ve had a significant increase in the number of puppies we’ve helped. Adolescent dogs have greater behavioural needs that are more challenging.”
Kay proposed solutions to the issue of abandoned dogs: “It would be helpful if more companies made their work places dog friendly, make people take a course before they get a dog and implement licensing.”
A report by researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) found that 40% of pandemic puppy owners had never owned a dog before, compared to 33% of people who bought a puppy in 2019.
Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC said: “The unprecedented demand for puppies combined with social distancing restrictions during the pandemic has led to the perfect environment for unscrupulous breeders and puppy dealers.
“A terrible price is being paid by many dogs from our choices on which breed to buy, our long-term commitment to the dog and even whether we can afford to look after a dog. It reminds us to ‘stop and think’ about life from the dog’s perspective too,” she added.
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HeadlineMore than one million pets abandoned since lockdown
Short HeadlineOne million pets abandoned since lockdown
StandfirstAnimal welfare charities say people are abandoning dogs due to a lack of training and being unable to keep up with the financial cost of ownership.
More than one million pets are currently without a home in the UK, according to the first global pet homelessness index.
The index, carried out by Mars Petcare, found the reasons for the abandonment of pets included behavioural problems due to a lack of training and being unable to keep up with the financial costs of ownership.
It comes after a charity claimed dog owners who bought puppies during lockdown are disguising their pets as strays so rescue centres would take them in.
According to research, dog ownership has risen by an average of 84% across London since the start of lockdown. Southwark accounted for the biggest rise in lockdown puppies, increasing by 140%.
‘Stop and think’ about life from the dog’s perspective”
Head Dog Trainer and Founder of Wanderdog in Southwark, Kay, has said that now puppies bought during lockdown are becoming adolescents, people cannot handle them.
She added: “We’ve had a significant increase in the number of puppies we’ve helped. Adolescent dogs have greater behavioural needs that are more challenging.”
Kay proposed solutions to the issue of abandoned dogs: “It would be helpful if more companies made their work places dog friendly, make people take a course before they get a dog and implement licensing.”
A report by researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) found that 40% of pandemic puppy owners had never owned a dog before, compared to 33% of people who bought a puppy in 2019.
Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC said: “The unprecedented demand for puppies combined with social distancing restrictions during the pandemic has led to the perfect environment for unscrupulous breeders and puppy dealers.
“A terrible price is being paid by many dogs from our choices on which breed to buy, our long-term commitment to the dog and even whether we can afford to look after a dog. It reminds us to ‘stop and think’ about life from the dog’s perspective too,” she added.
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