Pet owners are already regretting buying lockdown animals - just as the shelters predicted

As life begins to return after the pandemic lockdown, animal charities talk to Saman Javed about how owners can help their pets make the transition back to ‘normal’ living

11 week old Labrador puppy (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The pandemic created a “perfect storm” of conditions for a boom in pet ownership. Britain is a nation of animal lovers so we didn’t need much encouragement, but a report from the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association found that over three million UK households have acquired a new pet since the start of lockdown.

While being at home 24/7 and not having to commute to an office seemed the opportune moment to get that dog you’d always wanted, animal experts have long predicted that the enthusiasm would wane. Now a new survey of more than 2,000 people has found that one in four new owners has regrets about getting a lockdown pet. While shelters are already seeing an increase in the number of pets being abandoned or given up for adoption.

“Isolating during the lockdown was a difficult period for everyone. The need for companionship, coupled with the need to stay away from work for long periods and reduced access to gyms and team exercising, created a perfect storm,” veterinary surgeon Dr Brian Faulkner says.

But according to a survey carried out by Pet insurance company Petplan, 32 per cent of new pet owners either underestimated the cost of owning a pet, the health problems pets can face, how time-consuming they can be, or the mess they make. Regrets are highest among young people, with 46 per cent of those surveyed aged between 18 and 34 saying they should not have taken ownership of a new pet during lockdown.

Faulkner said many owners may now only be realising the level of commitment that comes with owning a pet now that their routines are starting to return to normal. “Pets of course live for years. They require a lifetime of commitment in terms of company, exercise, nutrition and preventative healthcare. They do not do well with changing circumstances that affect any of these key drivers of their wellbeing,” he says.

A dog needs company and shouldn’t be left alone for more than four hours, so if you work long hours with no one at home then they might not be the pet for you

Anna Ewers-Clark, PDSA

“As more and more people return to their normal social routines, many first-time pet owners are realising the implications of this to their pets and their own lifestyles,” Faulkner said.

The RSPCA says that it saw this trend coming - and that pets should never be purchased on impulse. “Taking on a pet is a huge decision and one that should not be taken lightly,” said a spokesperson.

“Unfortunately, we feared that some people who took pets on during lockdown did so without doing enough research and realising the commitment and responsibility involved in caring for a pet, or thinking about what would happen post-lockdown,” the spokesperson added.

As per the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a veterinary charity, there are five key welfare needs to consider when bringing home a pet: health, behaviour, companionship, diet and environment.

Anna Ewers-Clark, a PDSA vet said: “Every pet will have different requirements for each of these needs. For example, a dog needs company and shouldn’t be left alone for more than four hours, so if you work long hours with no one at home then they might not be the pet for you.

“Also, rabbits need an outdoor run, even if they live indoors, so if you don’t have a garden rabbits may not be right for your family.”

A rise in problematic behaviours, due to lockdown measures, could mean families have no other option but to give up their dog

Adam Clowes, Dog’s Trust

As well as considering the burden of care that pets require day-to-day, PDSA said an owner’s return to the workplace could be an “anxious and distressing time” for new pets who have never experienced life pre-pandemic.

“This can lead to separation anxiety, or separation-related behaviour, which is a fear of or anxiety towards being left alone. How severely your pet experiences this anxiety can differ between animals. As dogs are social animals, they can become extremely anxious and distressed when they’re away from their owner or left alone.”

As owners return to the workplace, it’s important to get dogs used to being left on their own very slowly, the PDSA said.

“Start with short trips and make sure you monitor your pet for any problems while you’re out. It’s also a good idea to give them a den or safe pace where they can feel secure when you’re not around,” Ewers-Clark said.

If it is not dealt with over time “it can become a serious behavioural issue”. Signs of this include excessive barking and whining, destructive behaviour, attempts to escape, pacing and going to the toilet in the house.

These behaviour-related issues are one of the main reasons why dogs are handed in, Dog’s Trust, the UK’s biggest dog welfare charity said - and they are expecting to see that number rise in the coming months.

Adam Clowes, operations director said: “Whilst we are starting to see an increase in dogs coming into our care, we believe the worst is yet to come and that we will likely see more people having to make the difficult decision to give up their dog if families struggle to cope with the fallout of the crisis.

“A rise in problematic behaviours, due to lockdown measures, could mean families have no other option but to give up their dog,” Clowes added.