A shocking new animal welfare report by leading veterinary charity, PDSA, today reveals millions of pets are more aggressive, overweight and misunderstood than ever due to fundamental gaps in pet owners’ animal welfare knowledge.
According to the report, 1.3 million dogs across the UK are displaying problem behaviour, 18.5 million dogs, cats and rabbits are being fed deathly diets, and 11.2 million pets are at risk of life threatening disease due to not being vaccinated or neutered.
Findings from the second PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report produced in conjunction with YouGov, exposes a serious lack of understanding and provision of even basic levels of care for millions of the UK’s pets.
The report, which captures the views of pet owners, the veterinary profession and for the first time, children, lifts the lid on some of the most concerning health and welfare issues facing the pet population and reveals some uncomfortable home truths, with problem behaviour in dogs, and obesity and illness in dogs, cats and rabbits, set to rise unless action is taken.
PDSA Head of Pet Health and Welfare, Nicola Martin, says: “The new PAW Report findings do make for difficult reading especially considering virtually all of the issues we have investigated are entirely preventable.
"The new report identifies serious concerns when it comes to the wellbeing of our pet nation, but in reality these are just the tip of the iceberg, especially if we don’t take action now to protect animal welfare long into the future.
"Taking on pets is a huge commitment and one that brings with it significant responsibilities throughout a pet’s lifetime. These responsibilities are not optional, they are a legal requirement and vital to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all pets.
“Just as humans have basic health and welfare needs, so do animals, but it is clear that in many cases their individual needs are just not understood.
"As the UK’s leading veterinary charity, we simply cannot ignore this and we want to do all we can to improve the long-term wellbeing of pets by helping owners understand what their pets really need to be healthy and happy.”
