'A dog is for life, not just for Christmas', is a warning most people will be familiar with as many pets face being given up once the excitement wears off, post the festive season. However, with a rise in people looking for companions during the pandemic, the numbers of pets being surrendered to shelters and charities has increased dramatically over the last few years.
“We are seeing a whole range of species being abandoned,” says Dr Sam Gaines, the RSPCA’s dog welfare expert. The RSPCA says abandonments were up by about 20 per cent in December last year, compared with 2020's figures. This has led to many shelters being overwhelmed, and many pets left looking for homes for longer.
One such dog is Hattie the Cocker Spaniel. After more than 500 days at RSPCA Southridge, Hattie has finally managed to find a new home, My London reports.
