Adding to the ever-growing list of negative effects on society that have emerged since COVID-19, pooches that were bought during lockdown months are now being resold. Many of these dogs were bought by people who believed they had enough time on their hands, since being able to work from home, to take care of these life-companions.
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The realities of being a pet owner
But what seems to have happened with a lot of these impulse-purchases is that, following the initial excitement of getting a pet, owners realized they were not equipped to take on such responsibilities.
Pet websites are now overflowing with ads aiming to resell dogs. Most of these pooches for resell are aged between six and 12 months old. One such ad, posted buy a seller from Lincoln, describes trying to get rid of a six-month-old Belgian Sheperd for £1000:
I've had this for just shy of two weeks, I love him to absolute pieces thinking I would have time to properly look after him [but] due to Covid my jobs got a lot busier and I'm struggling to maintain him. I'd like him to go to a well-caring home where he can be looked after and walked regularly.
Another person on a animal rehousing website is trying to find a new home for a 20-week-old Beagle puppy for £1500:
My beagle pup is now 20 weeks old. She is up to date with jabs etc and have paper work to show. She is also microchipped. I bought this pup for myself and now find myself with different hours at work due to Covid. I paid close to £2000 for her but would take £1500 to the right person/family.
COVID19 strikes again
By trying to escape loneliness and find ways to fill up their time, people impulsively, and selfishly, bought animals without taking into consideration the time, the effort and the money, that is required to take care of a pet.
An RSPCA spokesperson expressed having been:
worried that many families who found themselves at home with time on their hands during lockdown would make impulse decisions to take on pets and now, just a few months on, would be seeking to rehome their new dogs after realising how much commitment they are, having run into financial difficulties due to the pandemic, or because they've returned to work and no longer have time for them.
They are now urging people to think twice before taking on such a responsibility now that the UK might find itself in lockdown once more.
