This has got to be one of the most tragic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Animal shelters are seeing a rise in the number of pets being returned as their owners struggle to look after them as life returns to normal. Animal centres say they are witnessing more and more pet owners giving up their pets after failing to sell them. It’s even more heartbreaking that ex-pet owners are claiming the pets they acquired during the lockdowns last year are strays in order to get rescue centres to take them off their hands.
Millions of pets were bought during the lockdowns last year as people looked to pets to comfort them in those troubling times. However, since restrictions began to ease around the world and life returns to normal, many of these individuals are abandoning their pandemic pets as they no longer have the time to look after them. Since a lot of these pets were purchased online, their history and medical records were not provided. Thus they are more difficult to rehome due to the lack of documentation. And oftentimes, these pets have a higher likelihood of developing behavioural and health issues later down the track.
Discarding their pets like trash
Owners of unwanted pets are trying to sell them online using websites such as Gumtree and Pets4Home in order to recoup some of their money. However, those who are unable to sell their dogs are coming up with excuses to get rid of their once beloved pet. The number of calls received by dog wardens have increased within the last couple of months.
These calls are mostly from vets who claim that they have found a stray dog. In reality, these individuals just can’t be bothered to wait for charities to help them out, or are simply too embarrassed to hand their dog in. However, dog wardens can quickly tell whether or not a dog is a stray by simply scanning their microchips. The registered individual can claim their dog back, but oftentimes they would say they sold their dog a while ago. Sometimes, the number doesn’t even work.
Many ex-pet owners are abandoning their pandemic pets as they no longer have the time to look after themOne of the most tragic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic
A lot of individuals failed to realise the impact that a dog would have on their daily lives when they purchased a puppy during last year’s lockdowns. As the restrictions ease and life returns to normal, these individuals are now beginning to realise the implications of owning a pet. As most of these individuals are first time pet owners, they were either unaware or significantly underestimated the financial outlay that pets require. Furthermore, now that most workers are returning back to the office, they no longer have the time or energy to exercise or socialise with their animals.
What’s even more worrying about the current situation is that some of these dogs have changed homes multiple times. Most of the dogs have been sold multiple times before they ended up at a shelter. This has led the dogs to develop issues such as separation and confusion.
A more humane way
To solve this problem, people should ask charities to help when rehoming their unwanted pets. They are not objects that you should sell online without a second thought. It’s better to send them off to a kennel with professionals looking after them rather than being passed around homes.
