An exclusive report from The Telegraph reveals an alarming statistic: one out of every five pandemic puppies won’t see their first birthday. The report on the puppy crisis comes from The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest dog organization.
A survey of 3,000 people reports that 22 percent of pandemic puppies have gotten sick or passed away before their first birthday. That number grows to 36 percent for people who bought puppies without meeting them in-person.
Pandemic Puppy Boom
The cause of the issue is nuanced, forming what’s been called a “perfect storm.” COVID lockdowns in 2020 created a huge demand for puppies. Unfortunately, social distancing meant more people bought puppies online.
According to the Kennel Club’s report, since 2017, over 31 percent of people buying puppies didn’t meet the breeder or verify the puppy’s living conditions.
The Kennel Club’s report states that this “[allowed] rogue breeders to exploit animals by lowering welfare standards.”
In turn, the growing demand also fueled unethical breeding. The Guardian reports puppy farms and illegal importing grew during the pandemic. Astonishingly, dogs were also being stolen and sold to people willing to pay higher prices.
Inflation is Creating a Puppy Crisis
On top of that, the rising cost of living is playing a role as well. Research from the Royal Veterinary College found that most puppies bought during lockdown went to first-time dog owners. As a result, many puppies didn’t receive proper care.
The studies also found that puppies sold during lockdown are less socialized and likely haven’t received proper medical care.
Coming Out of the Pandemic
As the pandemic wanes, more people are returning to work and shelters are receiving record numbers of dogs. If you are thinking about getting a new dog, now is a great time to open your home to one of these lovely pups. While getting a puppy is attractive, buying one is a risky choice, and finding credible breeders can be difficult.
As always, we remind you to ‘adopt, don’t shop.’
