Should pet owners be vetted?
Around 3.2m households have acquired a pet since the pandemic began. But with reports of rescue centres filling up, experts say prospective owners should be regulated...
When Julie Jones looks at her French bulldog George, she’s filled with pride. Her seven-year-old pooch is well behaved, the perfect weight and has a gleaming coat. It’s a far cry from the condition George was in just a year ago. Before being adopted by Julie, he was so overweight that he had trouble breathing, his claws were too long because he wasn’t exercised enough, and a poor diet had left him with just two front teeth.
Julie, 37, from West Yorkshire, says, “It breaks my heart that George was so neglected. His previous owners bought him during lockdown and had obviously done no research into his needs. I think they just thought it would be fun to have a pet. They kept him for about seven months before they decided that he didn’t fit into their lifestyle any more. I was horrified that they could be so cavalier about an animal. Pet owners should have more checks and should never be allowed to buy them on a whim.”
ABANDONED
Currently, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes a pet owner legally responsible for making sure any domesticated animal under their care has their five basic welfare needs met. But recent research by the PDSA revealed that only 20 per cent of owners had heard of those needs, which include looking after their animal’s health, protecting them from injury and ensuring they behave naturally for their species.
Shockingly, the same study showed that 25 per cent of owners admitted to doing no research before getting a pet, and the pandemic has worsened the crisis. Three-quarters of the UK’s dog shelters are now almost or completely full, after a sudden spike in dogs under two being given away. Many were bought during lockdown and have been abandoned as people return to work.
Now, experts are calling for more thorough vetting for prospective pet owners, to help stop this crisis.
Dr Sam Gaines, head of Companion Animals Department for the RSPCA, tells Closer, “When a child is born, they are monitored throughout their lives by midwives, nursery, pre-school and then at school. But when you get a dog or another animal, that’s it – there are no more checks, unless the owner takes them to a professional such as a vet. It’s really important that we address the impulsive nature of pet buying – we want to see thought and research going into getting any animal, be it a dog or a mouse. And at the RSPCA we are calling for a return of dog licences to encourage responsible ownership.
“Responsible breeders match the dog to the owner. And potential owners should expect to be interrogated by breeders as to whether they’re suitable to have a dog. But unfortunately, some breeders are taking advantage of the recent surge in demand for dogs and are selling to anyone, which means that animal welfare needs are not being fulfilled. There are owners that will have taken on breeds without knowing their needs, and some that shouldn’t have pets at all as they are poorly prepared and unable to provide the care they need.”
Julie shudders when she imagines what could have happened to George if she
hadn’t adopted him. Julie, who works in commercial contracts, explains, “I’d split from my ex-boyfriend who had kept the French bulldog we adopted together. So I posted my story in a
French bulldog website asking if anyone knew of a charity rehoming dogs. George’s previous owner messaged me within half an hour saying that I could take her dog the next day.
ANGRY
“She didn’t care at all where he was going to. I could have been anyone. He was so lucky to come to me, I’ve had dogs all my life and know what I’m doing. The first thing I did when I got him was take him to the vet.”
Thanks to Julie’s expert care, George is now happy and healthy. Julie explains, “He’s shed the weight so he can now breathe easily and he gets the exercise he needs – an hour and half a day of walking at least. He’s loved and cared for as I work from home most of the time and, when I’m not, I hire a dog walker so he’s not lonely in the house.
“It makes me so angry that people will take on a dog without any thought – George is proof of what can happen to these defenceless animals.”
RSPCA press officer Rachel Butler, 33, couldn’t agree more. She rescued her dog, William, six years ago. Rachel, who lives with her partner, IT worker Richard, 31, says, “When William was abandoned, he was days from death as he was so thin and dehydrated. He was anaemic and so weak that he couldn’t get out of bed.
“His previous owners admitted they bought him on impulse after seeing an advert selling him for £50. They clearly hadn’t researched how to look after him. Appeals for information about William by the RSPCA revealed that when William was ill, his owners didn’t take him to the vet. Instead, they brought him to the RSPCA and pretended they’d found him like that.”
After careful vetting to make sure she was a responsible owner and knew what taking on a pet meant, the RSPCA allowed Rachel to take him home.
She says, “At the RSPCA, we encourage prospective pet owners to adopt from rescue organisations because our staff get to know the animals really well before matching them with an owner. The RSPCA looks into people’s lifestyles and their home situation, too. It’s important that the right people are taking home the right dog.” Now, William is thriving. Rachel says, “He’s a gorgeous dog and so healthy – we love him to pieces. But it’s horrific that he was ever in such a terrible state. No one should be able to buy a dog on a whim, it’s a privilege to have an animal, not a right.”
❛ NO ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY A DOG ON A WHIM – IT’S A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT ❜