30+ Of The Most Wholesome Rescue Pet Photos (Part 9)

The data suggests a spike in pet ownership during the lockdown, according to the RSPCA. "Between January and July 2020, Google keyword searches for "puppies near me" surged by 650 percent. Searches for ‘adopting a dog' increased by 204 percent, while searches for ‘kittens near me' increased by 188 percent "We talked about it last year," they said. "According to government records, the number of licenses given for the commercial import of dogs increased by 87 percent from 14,075 in May-September 2019 to 26,4461 this year."

The UK's Pet Food Manufacturers' Association acknowledged the surge in pet ownership in their Covid-19 Pet Survey. According to the study, 35% of young adults (those aged 24 to 35) said they had gotten a new pet or were planned to obtain one. That means that almost 2.1 million (or 19%) of young people in the UK have already acquired a pet while on lockdown, with another 1.8 million (16%) planning to do so.

Meanwhile, at the height of the lockdown, demand for puppies increased by 104 percent, according to the internet marketplace Pets4Homes (i.e. May 2020).

Dermot Murphy, the head of the RSPCA's animal rescue teams, said that while it's great that so many people are adopting pets, there are still some concerns. "While we applaud the fact that so many people have adopted pets and found them to be a source of comfort during these trying times, we are concerned that some individuals may have purchased a pet on the spur of the moment without considering how their lifestyle will alter after the pandemic is over. Furthermore, we are experiencing real economic uncertainty, and like in previous recessions, many may just be unable to afford their pet "He issued a warning.

"We always advise anyone thinking about having a pet to do their research and make sure they can provide them with the time, money, and care they require for the remainder of their life. As the pandemic's effects wear off on people's finances and more people return to work or some kind of normalcy, the fear is that an influx of abandoned and mistreated animals may enter our care "Murphy stated his opinion.

Meanwhile, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that approximately 6 to 8 million cats and dogs visit the country's shelters each year (pre-Covid). While the numbers have decreased significantly from a high of 13 million in 1973, they remain staggeringly high and demonstrate how firmly throwaway culture is embedded in society.

According to the HSUS, there are over 3.5 thousand brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the United States and approximately 10,000 animal sanctuaries and rescue groups in North America.

While we may be disappointed that so many great dogs are without a home, we can be grateful that volunteers bring them from the cold and assist them in finding a better, more stable home. The fact that 4 million cats and dogs are adopted from shelters each year attests to this. Everyone else, on the other hand, isn't in such a good spot.

The HSUS also points out that, while many pet owners appreciate their furry and fluffy companions, not everyone has access to proper veterinary care and spay/neuter services. The unfortunate reality is that most pets do not have the best quality of life possible.

There are roughly 23 million pets living in such underserved neighborhoods, equating to a staggering 77 percent of all US pets having never seen a veterinarian and 87 percent having not been spayed or neutered. The figures are very appalling, and it becomes clear why so many pets are abandoned.

Furthermore, approximately 80% of the 3 million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters each year are healthy, treatable animals who could have been adopted by loving families. Furthermore, purebred dogs make up a quarter of all dogs in shelters.

Animal shelters and groups do everything they can to assist rescued creatures. Having a big heart and a great desire to serve, on the other hand, isn't always enough. Unfortunately, housing, feeding, and treating animals are costly. According to the Humane Society of the United States, humane organizations spend about 2.5 billion dollars each (about $8 per capita), whereas animal control organizations spend 800 million to one billion dollars (aka 4 dollars per capita).