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I’m a veterinarian with 20 healthy dogs at home since their previous owners desired me to put them to sleep

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Vets are seeing a substantial increase in dog owners attempting to get their healthy animals put down amidst a spike in pet ownership throughout lockdown and the cost-of-living crisis.

Some animal medics, consisting of Sharon Williams, state they have actually been required to take in healthy dogs gave them by their owners to be euthanised, following a “ridiculous” increase in cases over the last 6 months.

Sharon, a branch partner from Medivet in Heswall, Wirral, has actually required to keeping as a number of the animals as she can rather of euthanising them after a variety of “heartbreaking” cases. Currently she has 20 dogs, 17 horses, 9 cockerels and 2 cats who were all undesirable.

Trying to discover foster or irreversible houses for them so she can take more in in emergency situations, she’s accidentally begun a makeshift rescue animal centre from her home.

This week, Sharon has actually taken in an eight-month-old German shepherd called Doofus who has actually just resided in a garden not a house and generated to be put to sleep.

“He’s a very nice dog. But if you do something he doesn’t like he becomes erratic and starts mouthing off at you because he’s been left his own devices, given no boundaries and had no training at all.” Now dealing with her, his behaviour has actually enhanced and Sharon says “he’s the most loving dog”.

The 33-year-old has actually likewise hand raised “a little tiny puppy”, Yorkshire terrier called Atticus, whose owner desired him killed since he had diarrhoea and his owner didn’t wish to pay to treat him.

Yorkshire terrier pup Atticus was brought in to be euthanised because his owner didn't want to pay for his diarrhoea treatment (Photo: Sharon Williams)
Yorkshire terrier puppy Atticus was generated to be euthanised since his owner didn’t wish to spend for his diarrhoea treatment (Photo: Sharon Williams)

“We also had an eight-month-old cane corso, who’d been imported for breeding, and then the owner found out he had elbow dysplasia so wasn’t suitable for breeding. He could still live a decent quality life but they wanted him put down because they wouldn’t be able to often make any money from him.”

Other veterinarians have actually reported seeing an increase in the varieties of individuals requesting for a healthy dog to be put to sleep. Experts state the spike in pet ownership throughout lockdown followed by individuals going back to workplaces and now the cost-of-living crisis has actually produced the “perfect storm” for animals to be abandoned or euthanised.

The pandemic caused a substantial spike in the variety of animals, with 4.7 million homes getting a brand-new animal throughout lockdown, according to information launched by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA).

Their figures from last April revealed more than 3 million homes had actually quit an animal in the previous year, a pattern that’s continued. The Dogs Trust and Cats Protection said caseloads are at record levels, while RSPCA officers are handling 25 percent more desertions year on year.

Problem sustained by individuals ‘who probably shouldn’t own dogs’

Sharon said the issue has actually ended up being so “every day” that she’s hearing of “multiple” healthy and young booked in for euthanasia. “They’re not all at my practice, but because I’ve started a rescue now I’m hearing about it in my area every day. Most of them are where the owner has struggled with the dog’s behaviour, and they think they’re aggressive.

“There was the increase in pups during Covid, often bought by people who wouldn’t normally own dogs and who probably shouldn’t own dogs. And they’ve not socialised them – you weren’t allowed to socialise then. And then people have gone back to work and cost of living has kicked in and they now don’t want them.”

In Britain, the numbers working specifically from home dropped from 38 percent in June 2020 to 13 percent in September 2022, according to The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

Complaints about barking dogs to councils leapt 43 percent in between 2019-20 and 2021-22, reported Wales Online.

Sharon says she’s likewise seen an increase in demands to euthanise Belgian shepherds (likewise called malinois), which she puts down to the 2022 movie Dog with Channing Tatum that included the breed. “This type of dog are used as working dogs for police to chase suspects or for search and rescue. They’re very, very intelligent dogs. They can run up the side of buildings and people thought oh that’s a great dog to buy.

“Now you’re seeing lots of two-year-old malinois being put to sleep because they’re not suitable for home environments. They need to be active and learning and using their brain. Left at home, they’re very disruptive if you leave them unsupervised.”

Sharon is now looking for helpers to assist her in caring for the animals she takes in (Photo: Sharon Williams)
Sharon is now trying to find assistants to help her in looking after the animals she takes in (Photo: Sharon Williams)

Sharon said that by law, animals are viewed as property. “Ultimately, it’s up to the owner. They can they be prosecuted for mistreatment if that’s happening, but there’s no reason why they are not allowed to request euthanasia, regardless of the reason.

“Vets can refuse to euthanise an animal if they don’t agree with it. But then you’ve got to consider, what will happen to the animal if you don’t euthanise it, will the owner kill it themselves? We usually try to sensitively persuade them to sign them over if we don’t agree with euthanasia.

“Some people point blank refuse to let you rehome a dog, even though the dog’s healthy. They want it dead for whatever reason. It’s always very awkward.”

Aggression and attacks

James Horner at James Horner Vets in Sheldon, Birmingham, said he too has actually seen owners not managing behavioural issues with dogs purchased throughout lockdown. “It is really sad as a vet having to put a healthy dog to sleep, but sadly it does happen. The most common reason is undesirable behaviour.

“The recent history of new pet ownership, Covid working practices – from full time at home, now full time at work – has definitely created a perfect storm for behaviour related issues in our pets. These frustrations from both pet and owner can lead to aggression, misunderstanding, and, at its worst, an attack on the owner or their family.”

He says that the majority of the time households are sad to need to make such options. “When we are asked to euthanise a pet related to aggression, or behaviour, the family is often devastated – after all, their pet is part of the family. Families who have healthy pets put to sleep generally have tried many avenues before the last resort of euthanasia.”

He worries the value of individuals doing their research prior to purchasing an animal. “With the benefit of hindsight, we can all suggest that actions should have been different, such as better training, different breed etc, and our advice is always seek help early with a new pet. Please reach out to your local vet for guidance.”

Owners not looking for treatment

Animal rescue groups state the cost of living crisis is requiring increasing varieties of owners to turn over their animals as food costs and veterinarians’ charges increase.

People asking the Dogs Trust to take their animal increased by 19 percent in a month in December alone, from 42,000 in November, reported The Independent. Cats Protection says the elderly in specific are dealing with financial resources and it has actually seen a 90 percent boost in older individuals handing down their cats in 2022 compared to the year prior to.

Caroline Taylor from Skillman Veterinary Services, who works as a veterinarian locum in Cheshire, said: “I visit a number of different vet practices in my work and can agree there is a continued flow of dogs being requested to be put to sleep.

“I am seeing more older dogs being requested to be put to sleep, with health conditions that could be managed, but people are choosing not to, whereas before they would have tried.

“We are seeing some dogs given up if owned by someone who has passed away and relatives cannot afford to take on the responsibility.”

The British Veterinary Association informed i it had actually heard some reports of veterinarians being asked to euthanase healthy dogs due to monetary concerns, however a larger issue is owners not looking for treatment.

President Malcolm Morley said: “The British Veterinary Association is really concerned about the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on pets. Whilst we have had some reports of vets being asked to euthanase healthy dogs, what is more prevalent is owners delaying seeking medical advice which is sadly compromising animal welfare. We urge owners seek medical advice as soon as concerns arise to avoid issues – and costs – escalating.”

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