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Original poster

More than 1800 people have contacted Dog’s trust to rehome unwanted lockdown puppies

359 replies

AlternativePerspective · 10/01/2021 15:12

And 1 in 4 people admitted they had impulse purchased a pet during lockdown.

Angry how the fuck do we get the message home that a puppy isn’t a toy and that people should think twice three, ten times before rushing out and buying one.

And obviously the increased prices aren’t a deterrent, although those are about greed anyway, because these people are buying them for £££ and then selling them on for the same prices.

www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/pets/a35115185/hundreds-puppies-resold-abandoned/

OP posts:
browneyes77 · 11/01/2021 19:38

This frustrates me Angry

I live in a first floor flat. Don’t live with my DP, live on my own. I work from home regardless of Covid.

I’d love a dog, but I choose not to have one purely because I don’t think it would be fair on the dog.

I have no garden to let it out into, so it would be stuck inside a lot. My job (pre Covid) is field based so when Covid isn’t around, I’m travelling to different locations for my job several times a month so I’d need to ensure I’d have someone to look after the dog in my absence. That may not be the case currently, but if we get this virus under control it will be like that again in future.

My mother has a fur allergy so couldn’t help and my brother has his own busy life with a 6 year old to cope with, so I wouldn’t burden him with the responsibility either. My partner lives 12 miles away and would be out at work himself daily, so also not an option. So I feel like I’m not in the right position to give a dog a stable home. even though I’d really really love one!

It’s about putting the dogs needs before your own!

inspiration101 · 11/01/2021 19:57

We bought a lockdown puppy a beautiful french bulldog, never wanted a dog before but being at home more I was persuaded by the children. Have to say it was the best purchase I have ever made, absolutely love him to bits and wouldn’t be with him and can’t believe I haven’t had a dog all these years, we have missed out on the love & company of a dog. Have met many many people when out and about walking the dog, who have said the puppy is a lockdown puppy and nobody has gave any indication that they are ready to give the dog up quite the opposite.

onlychildandhamster · 11/01/2021 20:05

the article claimed 2 things- 1 in 4 Brits have impulse bought a pet AND more than 1800 dogs have been abandoned or are in the process of being abandoned.

I don't think its that crazy cos (a) a pet doesn't just mean a dog; of course dogs are the most popular pets constituting 50% of all uk pets ie. 51% of uk adults have a pet, 24% of uk households have a dog. So an explosion of pet ownership during lockdown means at least half of them would be new dogs.

I got a lockdown hamster.I always wanted a little furry rodent, but my DH is less enthusiastic about pets but he relented during lockdown because he could see I really needed the company. I picked a hamster as it is nocturnal and would not mind me being at the office all day when normal life resumes and also because its a solitary animal so I don't need to get it a friend.

godmum56 · 11/01/2021 20:24

many of these pups are being sold on for as much as or more than their original price :(

Celestine70 · 11/01/2021 20:30

People are arseholes. To many a dog is a toy.

Hulashaker · 11/01/2021 20:45

We rehomed a puppy about 5 months ago now. We think the owners either mistreated her or got rid because of the situation. We had no end of issues, she was 5 months old and not toilet trained and anything. She didn't even recognise her name and was terribly overweight. It has been very hard training an older puppy, and we've had to get a trainer as we have a small child, but she's more it less there now. The weight is coming down, she will go for a walk and is much less aggressive. I feel sad when I think what her life was like, but I'm hoping now with some structure and a family that genuinely wanted a dog, for a long time, she's happy. My daughter is besotted at the very least 🥰

Feathersinthehead · 11/01/2021 21:42

So the shelters that accept dogs, then have incredibly high requirements for rehoming... do they just end up with hundreds of dogs?
Or do they destroy them?

Boysgrownbutstillathome · 11/01/2021 21:55

@AlternativePerspective

And presumably they’re not going to be able to rehome them because how do they vet new homes in lockdown, how do they prevent someone from applying to adopt a puppy from a rescue because they too fancy a lockdown puppy.

Sadly I think many of these dogs will end up being put to sleep.

Dogs Trust never put a healthy dog down.
Feathersinthehead · 11/01/2021 21:59

Dogs Trust never put a healthy dog down.

So either they end up with thousands of animals or they turn dogs away. Posters have said that dogs are being imported from rescues abroad.
What happens to the rejects?

browneyes77 · 11/01/2021 22:14

@Hulashaker

We rehomed a puppy about 5 months ago now. We think the owners either mistreated her or got rid because of the situation. We had no end of issues, she was 5 months old and not toilet trained and anything. She didn't even recognise her name and was terribly overweight. It has been very hard training an older puppy, and we've had to get a trainer as we have a small child, but she's more it less there now. The weight is coming down, she will go for a walk and is much less aggressive. I feel sad when I think what her life was like, but I'm hoping now with some structure and a family that genuinely wanted a dog, for a long time, she's happy. My daughter is besotted at the very least 🥰
Glad that she has a lovely loving new home Flowers
retirementrocks · 11/01/2021 22:37

Irresponsible f**ckers!

Pugdogmom · 11/01/2021 23:11

I prefer to rehome dogs, and haven't bought a puppy in 30 years, but we lost our older dog last year, and we wanted a younger playmate for our 2 year old pug. I don't mind training an older pup, as two of our rescues came as 9mths and 11mth old pups. Can't find a dog anywhere. Rescues don't have any, and breed rescues aren't taking applications as they can't home check, and they state they have more potential adopters than dogs to rehome. Hmm
People on Pets 4 homes are charging stupid prices for pups ( just saw bulldog pups advertised at 5k!). I was interested in a litter of pups until I did a bit of research and found it was this poor dogs 2nd litter in so many months.😡.
None of the rescues seem overwhelmed with dogs, so appears people are on the internet reselling. Its bloody scary as both my rescue pups weren't even a year and we were their 3rd home.

user1472151176 · 12/01/2021 00:31

Since reading this thread I had a look at puppies for sale. Nothing less then £2000! My first dog was free. Accidental litter of puppies that needed homes. Now they slap a name of the cross breed and charge a house deposit. It saddens me so much. I work from home and have 2 young children who would love a puppy (have always been around dogs). When we're not home we're walking or bike rides or on the beach. We don't holiday abroad and our families have dogs so would always be welcome. Such a shame. I cant justify the cost of buying a dog, not at such extortionate prices.

BeakyWinder · 12/01/2021 08:22

@Feathersinthehead

So the shelters that accept dogs, then have incredibly high requirements for rehoming... do they just end up with hundreds of dogs? Or do they destroy them?
Yes, according to the OP, but they never came back to explain that comment about the rescue choosing to destroy rather than rehome.
Allington · 12/01/2021 09:33

DDog has found plenty of other dogs to play with in our local park, it's rare that we have a walk without her getting to run round playing chase. Having said that, we didn't meet any that wanted to play this morning, but learning that not every dog you meet will want to play is also important Grin

Socialisation doesn't need special classes (unless there's a particular problem to work on). Just the opportunity to interact.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 12/01/2021 10:25

Our lockdown puppy goes to daycare once a week where there are 20 dogs (split into 6 groups). But even without that we always meet other dogs on walks, even before he was allowed to walk (pre 2nd jabs) i took him out in a sling to meet people, we went to the park to watch children playing/screaming, we took him outside when the bin lorry came, and so on. He is an amazingly friendly dog and very sociable with adults, children, and other dogs.
I appreciate that we got him in the summer when the restrictions had eased off. He even came to the pub with us a few times. It would be harder now but still not impossible to socialise a puppy.

sweetleftfoot · 12/01/2021 10:46

The influx of puppies in our local park really did shock me, I would say about at least 20 and 99% cockapoos. I hope they all keep them

BarryWhiteIsMyBrother · 12/01/2021 10:57

Puppy socialisation classes are still ongoing. We take three of ours to them (on different days): we simply take the dog to the place, the trainer comes out, puts the dog on one of his leads, and takes him/her in. The reverse happens at home time. Safe for humans and our dogs still enjoy spending time with other dogs and learning.

Nohomemadecandles · 12/01/2021 11:57

@user1472151176

Since reading this thread I had a look at puppies for sale. Nothing less then £2000! My first dog was free. Accidental litter of puppies that needed homes. Now they slap a name of the cross breed and charge a house deposit. It saddens me so much. I work from home and have 2 young children who would love a puppy (have always been around dogs). When we're not home we're walking or bike rides or on the beach. We don't holiday abroad and our families have dogs so would always be welcome. Such a shame. I cant justify the cost of buying a dog, not at such extortionate prices.
Yep Jacka-shi-poo-chis - it's a cross breed, you greedy fucker! You've mated your own "designer" pooch (or one you've nicked) with a random mutt, crossing your fingers with no care about what problems that might bring. You should be asking for help not charging £2000 each.
BlatheringOn · 12/01/2021 12:15

Some people buying in lockdown will have bought from puppy farmers like this nightmare: metro.co.uk/2017/03/16/couple-jailed-for-selling-10-dying-puppies-to-people-6512270/
She went to prison but will be out now and I can't believe how normal and relaxed she was in the video. Ordinary trusting people are easy meat for criminals and those poor puppies .........

Planty13 · 12/01/2021 12:30

We recently looked to adopt a puppy and our local rescues (rspca,dogs trust and local charities) had not a puppy between them.

Inpersuitofhappiness · 12/01/2021 12:35

This is not surprising at all. Didn't we all see this coming?
What happens to these poor pups now?

DeathValley69 · 12/01/2021 12:45

I dont understand why people are outraged that puppies are expensive. The price has risen with demand but as a matter of principle, why shouldn’t they be expensive? They are living creatures that will be a part of your family for 10 plus years? Why should they be free or of minimal cost? I paid £2000 for mine which is cheaper than a summer holiday. To those who are saying they would never pay the newly increased prices; what if they never come down?

HmmSureJan · 12/01/2021 12:49

@DeathValley69

I dont understand why people are outraged that puppies are expensive. The price has risen with demand but as a matter of principle, why shouldn’t they be expensive? They are living creatures that will be a part of your family for 10 plus years? Why should they be free or of minimal cost? I paid £2000 for mine which is cheaper than a summer holiday. To those who are saying they would never pay the newly increased prices; what if they never come down?
I'd still pay, though would have to save for a long time but I think the prices will come down. People just can't afford that or as we see here won't pay that, so the breeders will have to react accordingly.
TheGreatWave · 12/01/2021 12:55

@DeathValley69

I dont understand why people are outraged that puppies are expensive. The price has risen with demand but as a matter of principle, why shouldn’t they be expensive? They are living creatures that will be a part of your family for 10 plus years? Why should they be free or of minimal cost? I paid £2000 for mine which is cheaper than a summer holiday. To those who are saying they would never pay the newly increased prices; what if they never come down?
I would agree with this if all puppies were coming from reputable breeders that had the welfare of the animals at heart. However they are not, they are more likely coming from backyard mass breeders or people trying to make a quick buck.