Pedigree dogs being abandoned
The economic downturn being experienced in the UK has caused a great many pedigree dogs to be abandoned by their owners. This is happening because the middle class owners are finding it difficult to pay for the dogs’ upkeep.
As a result, many expensive pedigree dogs are being handed in to rescue shelters to be re-homed. Some are being dumped on the streets to fend for themselves.
Susan Tonner is the manager of the ‘Dogs Trust West Calder’. She says their dogs’ home is full, with all of its sixty places occupied, and dog owners looking to re-home their dogs are facing at least a seven week delay.
We are seeing more pedigree dogs coming into the centre. We have two German shepherds, a labrador, six springer spaniels, two cocker spaniels, a yorkie, while previously we would see pedigrees very rarely.
Over the last few weeks we have been approached by people who have to part with their dogs. In some cases both partners are going out to work now, while previously only one partner needed to work. They really do love their dogs but circumstances are forcing them to part with them. They are often in tears, it is a very emotional time. They often feel very guilty about it.
The Glasgow branch of the Dogs Trust say they’re getting anything up to twenty dogs per week being brought in because their owners simply cannot afford their upkeep.
Churchill Insurance recently conducted a study that showed that dogs increase the household budget by a considerable amount. It has been estimated that the average cost of owning a pedigree dog amounts to £20,000 over the lifetime of the dog.
And after recent programmes from the BBC and ITV, you can no doubt expect this trend to increase!
That’s a good point Lisa, the fallout from those TV programs is going to leave a lot of pedigree dogs without a home. The BBC show in particular could backfire on its intentions if dogs are being abandoned.