Spring Is In The Air

The thought of spring on the horizon brings a glimmer of hope, especially for dog owners. Seeing light at the end of a long, wintr y dog-walking tunnel always puts a spring in your step, especially during the ongoing Covid-19 social restrictions.

Dog owners have been so for tunate through the lockdowns, having an essential reason to get out and exercise ever y day, even in the grimmest weather conditions!

Spring heralds longer days and even more time to spend outdoors with our best friends – boosting our mental health and our dogs’ and seeing nature spring to life.

As a gateway to the

Broadcaster and author Anna Webb has studied at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT). She lives in London with Prudence and Mr Binks.

outdoors and providers of constant companionship, as well as natural stressbusters, dogs’ popularity soared during the first lockdown, creating a demand that outstripped supply.

The sad but inevitable fact is that hundreds of these puppies are now either being re-sold at extor tionate prices online, or abandoned into rescues nationwide.

The Dogs Trust has received over 1,800 calls about handing in dogs aged between 9-12 months. The main reasons given are a lack of time, or being unable to afford the dog’s vet bills.

This concurs with The Kennel Club’s research revealing that 25% of

lockdown puppy purchases had been shor t-sighted.

Picking up the pieces of our rash, throw-away society is hear tbreaking, par ticularly now when rescue centres are on the brink due to the pandemic.

It’s a reminder that to “adopt, don’t shop” is more impor tant than ever – as is understanding the huge commitment of owning a dog.

For those luckier lockdown pups, there’s hope they’ve taught their people the value of taking time out and being mindful.

Your canine’s therapy is not to be snif fed at – their philosophy is a simple one of being present, and untroubled by the past or the future.