Return to work may lead to rise in abandoned dogs, says charity
THE FAMOUS slogan ‘A Dog is for Life, not just for Christmas’ is one that many of us will recognise, although it is less typically uttered in June.
This summer, however, the concept is at the forefront of campaigning by the national charity Dogs Trust amid fears that a spike in people looking to alleviate lockdown loneliness by buying a new pet could, in turn, lead to a surge in animals being abandoned. The trigger, as life returns to normal, could be no longer having the time to care for the dog or being unable to deal with behavioural issues that may begin once it is left alone.
Puppies, in particular, may struggle with house training, as they will be used to people at home to let them go outside.
Amanda Sands, rehoming centre manager at Dogs Trust Leeds, said: “We are expecting to see a rise in the dogs coming to Dogs Trust once people start going back to work. If a dog has been brought into the home, and the owner has been with that dog 24/7 for months, they can’t then just go out one day and leave that dog. The sudden change will leave them with bad anxiety problems.
“Dogs react to anxiety in different ways but stress signs include starting to chew, trying to get out the door, pacing around the house or just shutting down.”
Statistics released by The Kennel Club show a 237 per cent increase in people searching for puppies this May, compared to May 2019.
“Dogs are a fabulous addition to any household but they are a big commitment,” Ms Sands said.
“We all need to look to the future when it comes to dogs as, hopefully, they will be with you for 10 to 15 years. Although we want people to take a dog on, we want them to think very, very carefully and to think long term.”