Women more likely to abandon dogs

Women are more likely to abandon their dogs than men are, according to research by the Kennel Club.

Lifestyle changes

The survey revealed that 50 percent of dogs were given away by women aged between 35 and 44, compared to 17 percent of men of the same age, and 27 percent of couples.

The reasons cited were lifestyle changes, a lack of training and no time to look after a dog. It also found that almost half of the owners giving up a dog arranged for them be collected rather than dropping them off themselves.

Celebrity trends

“People really need to explore their reasons for wanting a dog in the first place, do the research properly and invest time into training their dog,” said Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary.

“We are seeing an increasing number of owners being driven by celebrity trends in choice of dog breed, such as the French Bulldog, owned by Millie Mackintosh, Jessie J and Jonathan Ross.”

The various Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations rehomed over 20,000 dogs last year, which is more than two of the UK’s largest dog rescue organisations combined. And more than one in three reported an increase of dogs needing to be rehomed, compared with 2012.

Family for life

“Breed Rescue is a fantastic place to consider when looking for a dog,” said Caroline. “The expert staff and volunteers will often know the full history of the dogs in their care and provide you with invaluable knowledge on the breed and tips for caring for individual dogs to make sure the dogs find a family for life.”

Details of your local Breed Rescue organisation can be found on the Kennel Club website.