RSPCA fears knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic 'will hit rescue centres hard' in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire

The charity says an impending dog welfare crisis could be on the horizon in 2021 as families return to normal life and may no longer be able to take care of the puppy they bought during lockdown.

Another factor the charity has highlighted is the end of the furlough scheme, which could hit families hard and mean they are unable to afford to look after their pet.

This year alone, the charity said, it has dealt with 480 dog incidents in Buckinghamshire.

The charity revealed that nearly 190,000 reports related to dogs were made to its emergency hotline in 2019, and that already around 45,000 dog incidents have been dealt with this year in the UK.

According to the RSPCA, during lockdown, Google searches for ‘puppies near me’ increased sixfold (650 per cent) with 15,000 searches compared to 2,000 in January 2020.

And, government figures show, the numbers of licences issued for the commercial import of dogs more than doubled from 5,964 (June - August 2019) to 12,733 for the same three-month period this year.

The RSPCA said the figures suggest this rise in demand is fuelling a worrying trend in breeding and importing of puppies, a potentially exploitative and damaging trade which can cause suffering to dogs.

RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “We have seen a rise in people searching for dogs to adopt during lockdown, which is fantastic, but at the same time, there appears to be a rise in people looking to buy puppies.

“We know there are not enough puppies bred in the UK to meet the demands of those who want to buy them and, worryingly, there appears to be a surge in puppies coming in from outside the UK.

"The problem with this is that, although breeders from countries like Romania are licensed, we have no way of checking the conditions those animals are being kept in and we fear that sales like these could be fuelling cruel puppy farms as well as exposing puppies to long and stressful journeys.

“We are all used to being able to buy whatever we want when we want, but we’re urging people to thoroughly do their research before committing to getting any dog and to make sure they don’t get caught out by people acting illegally or irresponsibly. We have lots of dogs waiting for their forever homes so please do consider getting a rescue dog."

Mr Sherwood said that although it may be tempting to buy a puppy, those from abroad may have been bred in poor conditions, leaving them with potentially serious medical and behavioural problems.

He said: "Adopting from somewhere like the RSPCA, where staff have really got to know the dog, means you get the advice and support you need.

“If families would still prefer to buy a dog, we’re encouraging them to use The Puppy Contract. This is a free online tool that will help find responsible breeders and a happy, healthy dog.”

Adoptober

Throughout the month of October, the RSPCA is shining a light on animals in its care which need a new home, and promoting the benefits of adopting a rescue animal through its Adoptober campaign.

The RSPCA’s national centres and branches rehomed 7,480 dogs last year (2019); 93 dogs were rehomed in Buckinghamshire.

The RSPCA is the UK's biggest rehomer, finding 39,178 homes for pets last year - that’s 107 a day, or four an hour.

Two dogs looking for a home are:

Name: Maxy

Age: 9

Breed: Crossbreed

Where: RSPCA Blackberry Farm Animal Centre

Why is he so special?: Maxy is a very sweet affectionate boy who certainly does not act his age. He just loves cuddles and attention.

A bit about: "He came to us as he was being kept in a scrap yard for long periods of time. Maxy will need to go back to basics as we are unsure if he's ever been in a home before. He is starting to show signs of arthritis in his older age and he is on life long treatment to help him. We really hope this does not put adopters off giving this handsome chap a forever home," an RSPCA spokesperson said.

Name: Gaston

Age: 11

Breed: Doberman

Where: RSPCA Blackberry Farm Animal Centre

A bit about: "He is a lively old chap who came into us due to unforeseen circumstances but he is now ready to find his new home. Don't let his age fool you - Gaston is a lively old timer who enjoys to play. He adores playing with his toys and will bring them to you when he wants you to engage. Gaston is a bit impatient at times which shows when he has to wait too long for a treat, he can take the treats gently though. He can be very unsure around other dogs, particularly male dogs, as he often stares and barks so will need someone who understands that he gets nervous in those situations and can remove him to where he is more comfortable," an RSPCA spokesperson said.

Type of home needed: "Gaston is looking for a home where he is the only pet, an adult-only household and experienced owners who are around for most of the time," an RSPCA spokesperson said.

For more information about both dogs, visit the find a pet page on the RSPCA's website.