People In The UK Surrendering Their COVID Lockdown Dogs To Shelters As ‘Strays’

An unfortunate trend has been brewing in the UK revolving around lockdown dogs — canine companions adopted or, unfortunately, purchased during the pandemic.

As folks return to work with the ease of COVID restrictions, animal rescue charities and shelters are reporting that people are trying to sell their dogs online, as they’re either in need of money or unable to care for the dogs any longer.

When they can’t manage to sell their dogs, they often surrender their animals to shelters as lost strays. Sadly, rescue organizations are left to pick up the slack and try to rehome all of these COVID lockdown dogs.

We Hoped It Wouldn’t Happen

In both the UK and US, alike, dog adoption sky-rocketed during the pandemic.

According to a report from The Guardian, UK households adopted or purchased 3.2 million pets throughout the lockdown. Initially, that was a very good thing, but it left many of us wondering what would happen after things settled.

Now, Hope Rescue, an animal charity, reported to the BBC that their numbers for dog drop-offs are the highest they’ve been throughout the organization’s 15 years.

“We have noticed in the past couple of weeks an increase in dogs coming in,” Ira Moss, founder of All Dogs Matter, reported to The Independent. “and we believe that 90 percent of the time people have been pressured to sell the dogs first rather than bring them into the charities.”

When people can’t sell dogs, they’re abandoning them with dog wardens or shelters, claiming the dogs to be lost strays, Moss relayed. “…but often it’s by people who can’t be bothered to wait for rescue charities to help or are embarrassed about handing the dog in.”

Rehoming Issues & Consequence For Legitimate Strays

One of the primary issues of this trend is how the dogs were purchased initially.

In many cases, people bought lockdown dogs from online retailers who didn’t provide the dogs’ histories and medical issues. These dogs have often been sold and resold several times. That can create a vast array of behavioral issues from inconsistent family life.

Usually, dogs acquired under these conditions are not bought by someone terribly responsible, or knowledgeable, about dogs. They have no idea how to handle those behavioral issues and often worsen them. Then, they abandon the dog.

“When a dog warden takes a dog, they will scan a microchip, and the person registered on the chip can claim the dog back,” said Moss. “But sometimes you call them and they say they sold the dog some time back, or the number doesn’t work.”

As a result, legitimate strays end up at the back of the line for adoption, says Sara Rosser, head of animal welfare.

Failure To Think Through Lockdown Dogs

However, this is still the life of an innocent animal. Don’t put them through additional torment by selling them, especially if they already have behavioral issues. Think that part through, at least. Moss urges dog parents to take them to a shelter instead of selling.

“They are not just a car you’re selling online,” said Moss. “A lot of people think they’re just going to go into a kennel, but they are better off going to a kennel with professionals for a week or so than being passed around homes.”

Did you adopt a pet during the pandemic? How do you think we can help solve the problem of abandonment for lockdown dogs? Let us know in the comments below.