TV vet: “A pet is for life – not just for lockdown”
Human puppy Molly Loyale tells Closer why she’s urging prospective owners to think twice before getting a furry friend and TV vet Dr James Greenwood explains what you need to consider before making a commitment
The demand for pets has soared during lockdowns, with many of us turning to a furry friend for companionship. The RSPCA’s Find A Pet section saw a 68 per cent rise in views from March to December 2020, compared to the same period the year before. But worrying new research reveals that many pets were bought on impulse – a fifth of dog owners admit they don’t know whether their pet will suit their lifestyle once lockdown is lifted.
Now, charities say they are “bracing themselves” for a surge in abandoned pets. The Dogs Trust received more than 1,800 calls over the past three months from people looking to give up puppies.
And with charities already under pressure due to a lack of funding, a crisis is looming. But one animal campaigner, Molly Loyale, 28, has found a unique way to garner support. To Closer readers, Molly is better known as her alter ego, a puppy called Pepper. Wearing a playsuit, a doggy hood, paws and a tail, Pepper often enjoys long walks, playing fetch and snoozing with her husband Spencer, 29, who also has a puppy alter ego called Daring.
Now, Molly has launched a social-media campaign in a bid to encourage donations to overrun animal shelters. Molly, from Somerset, says, “I have thousands of followers on Instagram who love to see what Pepper gets up to, so I thought I’d use my platform for good. I post pictures of Pepper alongside captions asking for donations. I want people to realise how awful it is for these animals with no home.”
The demand for dogs has also fuelled the puppy farming trade. Shockingly, 42 per cent of buyers did not see their puppy’s breeding environment – either in real life or via video call – before purchasing, meaning they could have bought from a breeder with little regard for welfare, or who practises excessive breeding. Molly says, “I have two rescues, Staffordshire bull terriers Rocky and Ruby. Ruby was kept in a cage and forced to have litters – it’s awful.”
Dr James Greenwood has been a vet for 14 years and appears on daytime TV. He’s keen to stress how important it is to do your research, so you understand the commitment needed before getting a pet. He says, “Whatever pet you get, it’s for life, not just for lockdown. We don’t want to see owners giving up pets, or neglecting them because they don’t understand their basic needs.”
Here, Dr James tells Closer what you should consider before getting a pet...
Hundreds of pets abandoned as owners who bought them during pandemic struggle to cope