One in five puppies becomes ill or dies in first year of life

ONE in five puppies in Britain is falling ill or dying before its first birthday, the Kennel Club has found.

The cost of living crisis combined with the pandemic puppy boom during lockdown has led to a “perfect and terrible storm”, it said.

Covid restrictions meant animals were sold without buyers being able to meet the puppy, see it with its mother and gauge the credibility of the breeder.

Since 2017, there has been a threefold increase in the number of people buying puppies on social media, with a third (31 per cent) of people buying a puppy without seeing it in real life first.

One in nine dogs is now picked up from a neutral location – a practice common during lockdown when there were travel limitations – which is enabling rogue breeders to lower welfare standards and hide nefarious practices. Now 22 per cent of all puppies are becoming sick or dying in their first year, according to a Kennel Club survey shared exclusively with The Sunday Telegraph.

This figure rises to more than one in three (36 per cent) for dogs purchased before the new owner has met them.

The issue is exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, which has left many owners worried about being able to afford vet fees, the Kennel Club said.

Thirty per cent of new owners agreed with the statement: “I don’t know if I can afford to keep my dog if the cost of living continues to rise.”

“The virtual puppy buying … which enabled shady breeders to thrive – has combined in a perfect and terrible storm with the cost of living crisis,” said Mark Beazley, chief executive at the Kennel Club, who appealed for people to use responsible breeders.

“Thousands of people… are now struggling to care for dogs with health and behavioural problems, who are sadly the victims of this unprecedented set of circumstances.”