Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
LAST week, many readers living in areas defined by the government as at particular risk from the South African variant of Covid-19 will have struggled with the home test kit delivered by the council. From accounts I heard, although many gagged on taking the swab what completely floored most people was putting the cardboard box together at the end.
But at least, getting results from a wide number of people will help build a complete view of what’s going on. When examining an issue, it’s always useful to have a bigger picture which is why Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have commissioned a report on The Impact of Covid19 on Companion Animal Welfare in the UK. Information was emerging piecemeal about various effects of Covid-19 on animal welfare but this report gives a comprehensive understanding.
Findings of the report include that last year there was a sharp uptake in pet ownership during lockdown but that 31% of people who acquired a dog or cat had not been considering becoming pet owners before lockdown.
Battersea point out these pets are at potential risk of health and behaviour problems as, because of lockdown, there are reduced opportunities for vet visits and socialisation of animals.
They cite Maya and Sophie as examples of an owner unprepared for what they had taken on.
These two sisters were brought to Battersea after their owner realised they were too much for her to handle.
Initially the owner tried to return the puppies to the breeder she had bought them from via an online marketplace but the breeder only offered a small partial refund. Rather than sell her pets, the owner decided it would be in the dogs’ best interests to take them to Battersea. They have now been rehomed.
As well as highlighting problems, Battersea’s Report also makes recommendations.
These include that potential new owners should be reminded of the benefits of getting their animal from a rescue centre as opposed to buying one from unknown sources online. They also emphasise the need for government financial support for animal charities facing severe financial hardship.
True to form, Battersea not only outline emerging problems but also devise solutions.
In order to help owners ensure that, because of lockdown, puppies don’t miss out on vital training, they have developed a virtual puppy training course. This programme is a six-week course over Zoom with a limit of six puppies per class. For details go to battersea.org.uk