PDSA report warns of ‘concerning changes’ in pet behaviour
The pandemic has resulted in a worrying shift in pet acquisition behaviour, as more owners choose to acquire pets from abroad, and a significant number of these new pets are displaying fearful and anxious behaviours, new research reveals.
The 2022 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, produced in conjunction with YouGov, analyses the impact of two turbulent years of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK’s pets.
The report reveals that while the estimated population of dogs, cats and rabbits remain similar to pre-pandemic levels, 24% of all owners acquired their pet in the past two years, equating to 5.4 million pets acquired since the start of pandemic in March 2020.
The figures finds that 36% of all owners have no prior experience of owning that species of a pet as an adult. First-time owners were more likely to purchase from a private seller or breeder than an experienced owner. In addition, the number of animals acquired from UK rehoming centres has fallen.
The report reveals that the proportion of imported dogs has risen from 4% in 2020 to 6% in 2022 – equating to 640,000 dogs – and of these, almost 4% were imported for their cropped ears.
The research shows that the amount of time that dogs spend with their owners appears to be returning to pre-pandemic levels, with the proportion of dogs left alone for an hour or more during a typical day increasing from 53% in 2020 to 63% in 2022, and 1.5 million dogs (15%) left alone for five or more hours. Findings also showed that dogs owned for less than two years showed higher levels of separation-related behaviours affecting 360,000 dogs, (14%) compared to those owned for more than five years (9%) – suggesting those bought during the pandemic could be struggling to adjust to longer periods of time away from their owners.
Behavioural problems, potentially due to a lack of socialisation opportunities when young, remain a concern, with 1.6 million dogs (16%) showing signs of fear, growling or biting, and a further 1.3 million (13%) displaying these behaviours towards unfamiliar dogs.
The report also reveals that as the cost-of-living crisis starts to bite, an alarming 20% of owners did no prior research before taking on a pet, and just 18% of all owners investigated the costs associated with pet ownership.
Already, 13% of owners whose pets are unvaccinated and 8% of those who haven’t had their pets neutered cite cost as the reason. Similarly, 29% of all dog owners are worried about paying for unexpected vet bills if their pet falls ill or gets injured.
PDSA Director of Veterinary Services, Richard Hooker, said: “Sadly, many of the welfare concerns that have been highlighted by the PAW Report over the last 12 years remain, demonstrating a worrying lack of owners understanding of the needs of their pets. Alongside this, we are seeing emerging issues such as behavioural problems potentially related to a lack of socialisation opportunities during the pandemic.
“Pet owners need support – it is essential that we continue to work towards understanding and overcoming the barriers owners may have to understanding and providing the care that pets require, especially at a time with so many competing voices. The veterinary professions and the wider animal welfare community have a vital role to play in using both empathy and evidence-based information to guide owners to help them improve their pet’s wellbeing. PDSA will continue to play a key role in this work, through producing the PAW Report to provide essential annual surveillance, and through our vital work helping people and pets in need across the UK.”
