The RSPCA has warned lockdown buying could lead to people tiring of their pets as things return to normal and we could see many pets being abandoned.
National pet month lasts from April 1, until May 10 and we spoke to Cassie Carney, a volunteer for Broken Biscuits, a charity that rescues pets who have been mistreated or abandoned.
Cassie believes that people don’t understand the financial impact of having a pet and has been “traumatised” by the state of which some animals come to them.
Cassie said: “Our job is to take in these animals and rescue them People need to remember pets are for life not just lockdown.
“The UK is a country of animal lovers and there Is lots of support and we’re here when we are needed.”
The advice given by the charity is that people do their research before getting a pet and make sure they can afford any vet bills that might come about.
Much of the neglect they see is from owners ignoring the health issues their pets are having because they can’t afford to take them to the vets.
Pet scamming has also been on the rise during lockdown and one person who knows this all too well is Justine Shanahan.
Justine, like many others, decided to buy their first puppy during lockdown so she went on a breeder’s website and found a Labrador puppy.
But, when her husband went to pick up the dog it was not a puppy or a Labrador.
Justine said: “The dog was skin, and bones and had clearly been treated badly. Even though we shouldn’t have paid for it I just thought bring the poor thing home.
Justine said she wasn’t angry she got scammed but angry that someone could treat her dog in this way.
Her advice to anyone thinking about buying a pet is to find local breeders and check the reviews to make sure you’re dealing with someone you can trust.
National pet month is a chance to spread awareness on the realities of owning animals so charities like Broken Biscuits are no longer needed.
Every year people can get involved by donating to animal welfare charities, arranging dog walks and open days at the vets to promote good pet ownership.
If you would like to donate to Broken Biscuits click here.