The Pandemic Puppy Plight

Animal charities are under more pressure now than they ever have been before. Fundraising has suffered immensely due to the effects of the coronavirus crisis and unfortunately, most animal charities rely entirely on donations from the public to continue their crucial work. The RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Blue Cross are just a handful of charities that continue to go above and beyond to protect the welfare of animals in the UK. They have all expressed concerns for the number of puppies that will be abandoned when people return to work so here are some of the actions they are taking to control the situation and also offer support to dog owners during this troubling time.

Every summer the RSPCA experiences a significant increase in the number of abandoned animals that need rescuing compared to the rest of the year. In 2019, between June and August, a massive 16,519 animals were reported abandoned to the RSPCA. This number accounted for 30% of animals reported abandoned that year and the charity had nearly 180 calls per day about dumped animals.

Following the easing of lockdown and financial impact of coronavirus, the RSPCA has prepared itself for an even bigger increase in the number of abandoned pets this year. Dermot Murphy, head of the RSPCA’s animal rescue teams, told us:

“During lockdown we’ve seen pets become a source of comfort and support for people and it appears many people have taken on new animals. Fortunately, during this time we’ve dealt with fewer abandoned pets, however, we are worried that as lockdown eases, people return to work, go on holidays or struggle financially, we will be facing a massive surge of animal abandonments.”

Due to the concerns that there will be an increase in animal abandonment, an emergency appeal has been launched so the RSPCA can continue vital recuse work and help save as many animals in need as possible. It is vital that the RSPCA makes up for the damaging effect that the crisis has had on its fundraising income. Donations the RSPCA receive could help answer emergency calls to their Animal Rescue Line, help the Animal Recuse Team save suffering animals, provide expert care to a growing number of vulnerable animals and make up the serious funding shortfall that it currently faces.

Like the RSPCA, Dogs Trust has launched an urgent appeal during this tough time. Dogs Trust has forecasted that an additional 40,000 dogs could need their help as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Dogs Trust is urging anyone that’s considering giving up their dog for adoption to call them on 03300 303 2188 or contact them on their website so that they can offer support and help you make the right decision for your dog.

Dogs Trust also continues to work on its Freedom Project. During lockdown, domestic abuse became much worse and it’s not just people who are at risk of domestic violence. Sadly, dogs can often get caught up in the abuse too. Many refuge centres for families fleeing domestic violence can’t accommodate animals meaning some people feel trapped and unable to leave their abuser in fear of what might happen to their beloved dog. Dogs Trust works closely with refuge centres and helps find a safe foster home for dogs in need. When the time is right, they reunite the dogs with their loving owner so they can start a new life together. Visits to Dogs Trust online information about the Freedom Project increased by 300% during lockdown.

Blue Cross has also expressed concern for the abandonment of pets due to the economic effects of the Coronavirus crisis. It predicts that demand for its services will increase as a result of the worsening economic situation and this is based on historical precedents. Following the 2008 banking crisis, Blue Cross saw a 27% rise in abandoned or stray cats. Due to this, Blue Cross is also asking for donations so they can continue to care for and rehome pets in need.

To further help new puppy owners during lockdown, Blue Cross launched a vlog series. Socialisation is one of the most crucial parts of a puppy’s development and in ordinary circumstances, this would include a puppy seeing lots of new faces, meeting other dogs, going to regular puppy classes and adjusting to unfamiliar situations and environments. Due to the government’s restrictions, people were unable to socialise their new puppies so Blue Cross created this vlog series to aid new puppy owners and help them adjust their dogs to a new way of socialising. Claire Haynes, Animal Behaviourist at Blue Cross said:

“We know lockdown saw an opportunity for those who were at home more to take on a new puppy. We produced our ‘Puppies in Lockdown’ series of vlogs to help them teach their new pets how to get used to new things and start on the training they will need to grow into confident, happy dogs. We do have concerns that those who have taken on a puppy during lockdown and are returning to work might find their dog cannot cope with being left home alone. For anyone struggling to cope, we ask owners to contact a charity like Blue Cross for advice and if needs be to rehome and never to abandon a pet to fend for themselves.”

As highlighted by the government, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant if you’re buying a new pet during this time. Both Dogs Trust and the RSPCA have expressed concerns for the number of criminal gangs who are willing to exploit the situation in order to make a profit. With an increased demand for puppies and sellers hiking prices, it’s created a lucrative market for puppy smugglers. Dogs Trust’s Veterinary and Campaigns Director Paula Boyden told us:

“It’s shocking to see how much dogs are being advertised for sale online and in particular how prices for some of the most popular smuggled breeds have increased during the coronavirus lockdown. While there are many responsible sellers out there, sadly there are plenty who are just looking to tug on the heartstrings and exploit the situation for their own profit.

“With puppies in such high demand, and selling for such high prices, it’s creating a lucrative market for cruel puppy smugglers and, sadly, we have rescued many dogs illegally imported into the country, destined to be sold during lockdown. It’s also creating a perfect storm for people to be Dogfished and scammed out of their hard-earned money.”

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said:

“We’d urge anyone thinking of getting a new pet to think long and hard about whether they can properly care for that animal, not just now but into the future when restrictions are lifted and their lifestyles become more busy. If people do decide now is the right time to get a pet, then we’d always urge them to consider adopting instead of buying an animal. We still have thousands of animals in our care at the moment and have restarted rehoming some animals in England and Wales with strict measures to keep our staff and the public safe.”

Both Dogs Trust and the RSPCA highlighted the importance of making multiple visits to see the puppy and its mum interacting. And both advise that if something doesn’t seem right, you must walk away and report the seller, as hard as that might be.