Approximately 130,000 dogs were estimated to enter local welfare organisations such as re-homing centres every year. This equates to around 1% of the estimated 9 million dogs living in the nation which are being relinquished annually, according to a 2019 Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) report.
While these summative headlines certainly shed light on the overall numbers of rescue dogs entering into welfare organisations, they do not describe the demographic changes the rehomed animals undergo – different breeds require unique and contrasting intensities of care, housing and especially veterinary attention.
The cost of housing, food and veterinary care for the relinquished dogs mostly falls onto rehoming organisations – the RSPCA spends close to £50 million in maintaining their own hospitals and animal rehoming centres. The vast majority of animal welfare organisations, however, face dire economic challenges in the future – luckily, rescue dogs now account for 30% of all new pet owners.
The responsibility which comes with owning a rescue dog
Although it can be very tempting to adopt a rescue dog and provide it with loving care and affection –most pet owners do not understand the special care and training required according to the specific breed of rescue dog they have taken in.
Being a dog owner and pet lover yourself, you’ve probably read how Boris Johnson’s rescue dog was ‘accused’ of mischievous, unruly and generally disobedient behaviour – such as chewing furniture or ‘lifting his leg’ on a handbag. The adorable 2-year-old Jack Russell was seen expressing his “romantic” urges many a times, by clinging on to every new person’s leg he would come across.
