The Ironic Situation: Some People are Rehoming their Pandemic Puppies

During the pandemic, the Dogs Trust and RSPCA have witnessed a 182 percent increase in website traffic looking for information about relinquishing pets.

Her owners were unable to cope with the dog’s behavior, so a tiny puppy with severe anxiety was rehomed because of the lockdown.

Peggy – a poodle mix puppy – believed she had found her forever home early into the epidemic.

However, because they were unable to cope with the situation, she was given to an animal charity called Blue Cross.

Peggy has a severe case of separation anxiety and will violently guard anything in the house, which her owners could not tolerate.

Many people are giving up on their dogs after Lockdown, believing that things aren’t working out.

Jenny Day, a volunteer coordinator and animal welfare assistant at Blue Cross, had to intervene and assist the adorable puppy in finding somewhere else to stay.

The enormous demand for pups during the pandemic has had “serious” repercussions for animal health and welfare, according to research.

The Dogs Trust and RSPCA claim they have seen a 182 percent increase in website traffic looking for information about giving up a dog.

They say that calls regarding rehoming animals increased by 39 percent.

Demand for our services is continuing to set new records due to the disproportionate number of dogs being abandoned, rescued or collected in relation to this year’s COVID outbreak. People are finding themselves unable to cope with their dog’s needs during this time.

Adam Grogan, senior canine welfare manager at Dogs Trust

The situation has become so critical, animal charities are offering reduced fees for abandoned dogs in hopes of rehousing them quickly.

“Though, whether it’s for a birthday or any other occasion, there are some present ideas. However, dog ownership is a big commitment, and as life returns to normal, some people are finding out that sadly, due to their new circumstances, they can no longer care for their dog.”

“Behavioral problems that might have been prevented early on can become deeply ingrained and difficult to address later. So we’ve had to intervene and assist the pup in finding somewhere else to stay.”

Blue Cross says that it has seen a 50 percent increase in the number of dogs being dropped off at their centers and rehoming centers, which they claim is directly linked to COVID’s lockdown protocol.

“People are finding themselves unable to cope with their dogs’ needs during this time,” said Tom Gatland, operations manager at Blue Cross.

“We hope that even things return to normal, people will once again understand what a joy it is to bring home a new dog.”