50,000 dogs have been dumped across the UK in the last three years as people return to the 'new normal' after a lockdown which saw thousands of households invest in a pet. Shelters are having to take on new staff and volunteers as every bed is filled with dogs looking for new homes, reports The Mirror.
Many Tears Animal Rescue has 200 abandoned dogs and struggling to meet the cost of caring for them as founder Sylvia Van Atta has had to employ 20 extra staff to help out – and is still recruiting more. Sylvia said: “I don’t know what we’re going to do.
“We can’t take in all the dogs who need rescuing and we’re running out of cash. Things have never been this bad.”
The RSPCA has received 47,593 dog abandonment reports in the last three years. Dermot Murphy, RSPCA inspectorate commissioner, said: “We are seeing far too many dogs being sadly abandoned by their owners. The cost of living is one of the biggest barriers to welfare and is making it harder for people to be kind to animals. Many pet owners are struggling.”
The RSPCA’s Give up a Pet page received 72% more visits in the first five months of 2023 compared to the previous period in 2022. The charity revealed that 10% (4,787) of all abandonment reports concerned Staffordshire bull terriers.
It also said the number of French bulldogs given up has rocketed by 5,175% in the last three years. The RSPCA puts that increase down to people not realising the breed is prone to health issues due to it being flat-faced, which can potentially mean high vet fees.
Dermot said: “As costs stack up, instead of asking for help, some have chosen to dump their dog.”
The 20 most abandoned breeds:
- Staffordshire bull terrier
- German shepherd
- Jack Russell
- Husky
- Chihuahua
- Labrador
- French bulldog
- Lurcher
- Collie
- Rottweiler
- Akita
- Mastiff
- Bulldog
- Spaniel
- Pitbull
- Pug
- Yorkshire terrier
- Greyhound
- Shih Tzu
- Boxer
Find out about adopting a dog, fostering or volunteering at the centre at manytearsrescue.org
The RSPCA’s cost of living hub helps pet owners. Alternatively, the public can call the charity’s dedicated cost of living call line on 0300 123 0650.
