One in four new puppy owners have considered rehoming as pet abandonment soars
A quarter of new owners admitted they considered giving up their pup within the first two weeks, according to new research.
Experts call the rise in pet abandonment the “puppy blues” crisis; In this crisis, nearly six in ten (58 percent) report feeling anxious, overwhelmed or unprepared in the early stages of pet ownership.
It comes after the RSPCA detected record levels of pet abandonment in the UK, with 22,503 cases reported last year; this was the highest figure since the pandemic.
Angela Spenley-Roberts, 51, from Cheltenham and owner of two patterdale terriers, explained the cost of a life crisis and the rise in vet bills were factors that could lead people to abandon their pets.
He told how his dogs, Molly and Roco, started eating the walls during workdays and he always had to clean up after them. She said her “lack of support and understanding, so having more than one puppy is quite overwhelming.”
Despite the challenges, Ms. Roberts found ways to handle crate training her pets and listening to sounds to get them used to sounds like fireworks or a doorbell. Since then, she said, they have become “the most joyful best friends for life.”
Lorna Winter, co-founder of dog training app Zigzag, which was behind the research, said “every dog owner who is overwhelmed is a missed opportunity for prevention.”
The UK dog behaviourist said: “When you get a puppy, early behavioral difficulties such as going to the toilet, chewing, separation anxiety, jumping – these are all completely normal, but I think what we’re seeing is that people aren’t quite prepared.
“They don’t fully understand the true reality of what it takes to have this living, breathing little puppy in your home, and it can feel overwhelming.”
While bringing home a puppy can be a big responsibility, the survey of 500 dog owners shows only half feel confident about preventing common problems such as chewing and barking, and almost a fifth have done little or no research before getting a puppy. Moreover, almost a quarter (23 percent) waited until after the first month to start training.
She described how “many owners reach their breaking point”, comparing the challenges of handling a puppy to having a baby in terms of sleep deprivation and fitting them into busy schedules.
The Cat Protection Foundation added that more than 26,000 cats had been adopted or abandoned in the last 12 months. This included 3,000 as unwanted litters, more than 1,000 due to owner death and more than 1,000 due to care costs.
London Fire Brigade estimates £686,475 was spent on animal rescue calls in the year to June, up from £261,253 in 2020.
Ms Winter explained the dogs were likely to live for 10 to 15 years, adding: “It’s a big commitment. This isn’t just a bag you can give to a charity shop or a pair of shoes you can give away.”
He said people need to think carefully about “whether this is the right thing for your family right now” and the rewards because “a lack of preparation can often lead to that heartbreak later.”
