Dog ownership in Yorkshire increases by more than third in 2020 amid reports of abandoned puppies

Research from Quotezone.co.uk revealed an increase in dog ownership in the region of 34% between 2019-20.

This makes Yorkshire one of the top 5 hotspots in the UK for increased dog ownership during the pandemic, Quotezone said.

The research highlights London as the biggest hotspot across the UK for increased dog ownership - in front of South East England, Scotland & West Midlands.

Ownership numbers which include all pets show a 40% increase in Yorkshire in 2020 compared to 2019.

The top four most popular 'lockdown puppy' breeds have also been revealed.

In Yorkshire, they are:

Cockapoo

French Bulldog

Labrador Retriever

Spaniel

The RSPCA said they are now "really concerned" that many puppies are being sold on having been bought impulsively during the early 2020 lockdown.

Speaking last week, the organisation said it is now "bracing for more animals to be abandoned in the coming months" - as the Dogs Trust also echoed the same message to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “We’re really concerned to hear that many puppies are being sold on having been bought during lockdown and we’re saddened that our fears appear to be coming true.

"We were worried that many families who found themselves at home with time on their hands during lockdown would make impulse decisions to take on pets and now, just a few months on, would be seeking to rehome their new dogs after realising how much commitment they are, having run into financial difficulties due to the pandemic, or because they’ve returned to work and no longer have time for them.

“We’re bracing for more animals to be abandoned and handed into rescue centres over the coming months as families realise they can’t take care of their new pets, and this will have a huge impact on the charities who are left to pick up the pieces despite facing their own challenges as a result of Covid-19."

The spokesperson said they had sadly started to see animals being abandoned or coming into their care "after they've been bought during lockdown" or due to a change in the owner's circumstances "as a result of Coronavirus".

“Dogs are a huge responsibility and taking one on should always be a decision that is made carefully, with great consideration given to whether you can care for that pet for the rest of their life", the spokesperson said.

They continued: "Any prospective pet owners should do lots of research and ensure they can commit to that animal.

"Sadly, we know that as animals are so readily and easily available to buy online, it can be very easy for people to buy a new pet on a whim and that often means that, within a few months, they quickly realise that they cannot cope with them and seek to give them up or sell them on.”

Dogs Trust said they were not currently expecting the "influx" of dogs that was initially expected when the pandemic began.

They put this down to a range of circumstances including the way the charity operates, continuing lockdowns and the furlough scheme still being in effect.

Despite this, the charity said they also fear the "worst is yet to come".

Chief Executive Owen Sharp told the Yorkshire Evening Post that it was "no surprise" that during the pandemic there had been a "huge demand for dogs".

He reached out to owners "struggling to care for dogs" to visit a rescue organisation in the first instance - rather than selling the puppies online.

Mr Sharp said: "It's no surprise that during the pandemic there has been a huge demand for dogs, as more people have been at home with time to care for a new family member, of the canine kind.

“Whilst we are seeing some dogs being handed in to us that were purchased during lockdown, we are yet to see the full impact of so-called ‘lockdown puppies’ coming into our care.

"However, we believe the worst is yet to come and that we will likely see more people having to give up their dog if families struggle to cope with the fallout of the coronavirus crisis or life changes for them in a way they didn’t predict.

“If you are someone who bought a dog and you're now struggling to care for them, we would urge you to come to Dogs Trust or another rescue organisation in the first instance, rather than selling your puppy online.”

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