What the research suggests
We’ve taken a look at independent research from across the UK to shed some light on how we, as a nation, have become more thoughtless about buying a new puppy. Since lockdown was announced in March, Google searches for ‘buy a puppy’ increased 166% and The Kennel Club saw a 180% increase in enquiries from potential dog owners. Adverts posted across online marketplaces during lockdown for puppies, dogs, kittens and cats also increased 125%.
According to the research, one in four people admit to buying a puppy in lockdown with little or no research. 27% of new puppy owners said the main reason for getting a puppy was to help them get through lockdown and a shocking 25% don’t know if their dog will suit their lifestyle after lockdown.
Any reputable breeder will arrange for you to see the puppy in their breeding environment before taking them home but 42% of pandemic puppy buyers didn’t see the breeders home virtually or in person. And shockingly, one in four people admitted that they could have inadvertently bought from a puppy farm. 27% paid money before even seeing the puppy and between March and April, 669 people were scammed out of £282,686 after paying deposits for pets that were advertised online. 83% weren’t asked a single question by the breeder about their suitability as puppy owners and another concerning statistic showed that 15% of new puppy owners agree in hindsight that they weren’t ready to get a pet.
Since the government restrictions were introduced, RSPCA rescuers have dealt with 42,685 incidents of animal cruelty and received 3,492 reports of abandonment, including 1,509 dogs, 1,165 cats, 299 small furries such as hamsters and 275 exotic pets. The RSPCA is bracing itself for a significant surge in abandoned animals and fears that the fallout from the pandemic could see more owners struggling to keep their pets. And Dogs Trust is predicting that more than 40,000 dogs could be at risk of abandonment in the fallout of the coronavirus crisis.
15% of people who got a puppy in lockdown were concerned about whether they can actually afford their dog and the associated costs such as food, vet bills and pet insurance. One in three new puppy owners didn’t even get pet insurance. In its entire lifetime, a dog will cost you at least £4,500 up to £13,000. On average, small dog breeds cost £50 a month, medium dog breeds £65 and large breeds can cost you as much as £80 a month, not including vet bills.
How animal charities are helping
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.
The RSPCA
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.
Dogs Trust
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
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.”
What the government are doing
After noticing an increase in people looking to purchase pets during lockdown, the UK government launched a campaign in July urging the public to stop and ask: ‘Who’s the person behind the pet?’
In an open letter that has been supported by animal charities including Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the Blue Cross and the RSPCA and signed by celebrities like Paul O’Grady, Amanda Holden, Kirsty Gallacher and David Gandy, the government is calling on the public to be more mindful and thoroughly research the seller before buying a pet online.
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has reported a spike in the number of sick puppies and kittens that are being brought to vets due to new owners not doing enough research and buying pets from unscrupulous breeders. UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, said:
“Prospective pet owners must beware of sinister sellers out there who breed animals purely for profit with zero concern for their welfare. The devastating consequences include crippling vet bills, and, in the worst cases, animals having to be put down. It’s vitally important that people not only research the breed of animal they want but also the person selling it to them.”
BSAVA president, Ian Ramsey, added:
“Vets are continuing to see many owners who have been sold very sick puppies by unscrupulous dealers simply because new owners have not researched the seller before buying their pet. As a result, vets see first-hand the distress and upset this can cause owners. We would urge anyone thinking of buying a puppy or kitten to check their pet is coming from a responsible seller before making a decision to buy.”
The government is warning people about being ‘Petfished’, a play on the term ‘catfishing’, where strangers adopt a fake persona online to lure someone into a relationship. Similarly, deceitful pet sellers use the same tactic to ‘Petfish’ unsuspicious buyers. To avoid this, the government’s campaign urges people to spot vital red flags when looking for a breeder with the help of the acronym S.P.O.T:
Seller
Once you’ve found a seller, put their name and phone number into a search engine. If the result brings back multiple adverts from the same seller, you should be suspicious.
Parent
Arrange to see the puppies or kittens in their home with their mother, whether it’s in person or virtually. Reputable breeders should offer you the opportunity to visit their home.
Old enough
Check that the puppies and kittens are at least 8 weeks old before you bring them home.
Treatment
Check that the animal’s health records are up to date. If the seller won’t provide you with the pet’s health records then you should avoid buying from them.
If you’re looking to get a new pet, you can get guidance and advice on the Petfished campaign by visiting getyourpetsafely.campaign.gov.uk.
Further to this, the government introduced a landmark new legislation on 6 April to put a ban on third-party puppy sales in the UK. This new law goes by the name ‘Lucy’s Law’ and means that anyone wanting to get a new puppy or kitten in England must now buy directly from a licensed breeder, or adopt from a rescue centre. Anyone selling puppies or kittens without a licence could receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months. This law has been ten years in the making and seems to have come to fruition at the right time.
The law gets its name from a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Lucy. Lucy was rescued from a puppy farm where she was subjected to terrible conditions. Most puppy farms in the UK rely on third-party sellers or ‘dealers’ to distribute puppies or kittens who are often sick, unsocialised and traumatised due to being taken away from their mother at just a few weeks old. The puppy is then often transported long distances having suffered life-threatening medical, surgical or behavioural problems which are passed on to its unsuspecting new owners. Lucy’s Law makes it illegal for a third-party dealer to be involved, resulting in all dog and cat breeders becoming accountable for the first time.
Marc Abraham, media vet, author, founder of Pup Aid and the Lucy’s Law campaign said:
“I’m incredibly proud to have led the 10-year campaign to ban cruel puppy and kitten dealers and to get this essential Lucy’s Law legislation over the line. I’d like to give a huge thanks to UK Government for passing this law, as well as every animal-loving parliamentarian, celebrity, welfare organisation and member of the public that supported us. Lucy was an incredibly brave dog, and it’s right that her memory is honoured with such an important piece of legislation to help end puppy farm cruelty; protecting breeding dogs just like her, as well as cats, their young, and also unsuspecting animal-lovers from the dangers of irresponsible breeding and cruel puppy and kitten dealers.”
Expert advice for people looking to get a new pet
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.
Dos
Don’ts
The importance of pet insurance
Research shows that one in three people that bought a puppy in lockdown didn’t purchase a pet insurance policy. Whilst pet insurance might seem like a big monthly commitment, all new pet owners should seriously consider taking out a policy. If your puppy got into an accident or injury, do you have enough savings to cover the vet fees and any treatment they might need? If the answer to this question is no, then not taking out pet insurance could be a costly mistake.
Unexpected vet bills can easily run into the hundreds with the average pet insurance claim costing an overwhelming £750. On average, a dog insurance policy costs £28 a month so it would take you just over 26 years of paying your monthly pet insurance bill to reach the cost of the average pet insurance claim. And when you consider your dog’s life span, it really seems like a no brainer.
If you’re looking for pet insurance for your puppy, our comparison table highlights the best providers based on real customer experience and product quality. We believe that the typical insurance buying journey is flawed as it encourages users to pick the cheapest policy on the market. Most people overlook the finer details of the policy and don’t take the time to thoroughly understand what is and isn’t covered. We’re challenging that by giving you an impartial and unbiased overview of the market so you can purchase pet insurance from a high-quality provider that you can rely on when you need them most.
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**The quote received provides lifetime cover for accidents and illnesses for a 5-year-old moggie who has been spayed and chipped, cost £600 and lives at a CM postcode.