‘A dog is for life, not just for lockdown,’ public reminded by dog welfare charity

‘Consider when the lockdown lifts how your life will need to change to accommodate your four-legged friend,’ charity head states

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A dog welfare charity is urging members of the public to think carefully about bringing a dog into their home in the present climate as their lifestyles will change when lockdown lifts.

In the month after nationwide lockdown was introduced on Monday 23 March, Google searches for “buy a puppy” increased by 120 per cent, Dogs Trust states.

According to data compiled from digital marketing agency Propellernet, online searches for “adopt a puppy” surged by 133 per cent in the same time period.

Dogs Trust has expressed concern that when lockdown and social distancing restrictions are eased, there may be a spike in people giving up their dogs, as this pattern of behaviour has been seen around Christmas time in the past.

The charity has therefore made a slight alteration to its famous slogan “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas”, changing it to “A dog is for life, not just for lockdown”.

The organisation has also created an online quiz for potential new dog owners that they can take to ascertain whether they are “dog-ready”.

“Dog ownership can be so rewarding, but it’s also a huge responsibility which is why we are reminding people today that ‘a dog is for life, not just for lockdown’,” said Owen Sharp, Dog’s Trust chief executive.

“Like Christmas, when people are at home more, they might think now is the perfect time to get a dog. For some people this will be the case, but we’re asking people to consider when the lockdown lifts how your life will need to change to accommodate your four-legged friend.”

Mr Sharp explained that the online test includes questions asking whether potential dog owners are ready to become “chief pooper scooper”, whether they are “ready to forego a lie-in ever again” and whether they are around for “vet treatment and preparing for emergencies”.

Graham Norton, who owns a labradoodle called Bailey, stated that it is important not to forget that “you still have to walk a dog on a rainy evening, and pick up their poo in the dark”.

“Please remember that life will go back to ‘normal’ at some point with people returning to work and school, and when this happens you need to think about whether you can still fit a dog into your life,” the television and radio personality said.

According to the Kennel Club, puppy registrations for the Scottish terrier increased by 92 per cent in the first three months of 2020 in comparison to the same time last year.

Bill Lambert, spokesperson for the Kennel Club, said that rising interest for smaller breeds of dog could be “partly driven by lifestyle changes, where people living in urban environments with busy lifestyles are looking for smaller dogs that require less space, and partly by the dictates of fashion, driven by celebrity, advertising and social media”.