Dog welfare crisis looms as lifestyle changes, a lack of training and time are revealed to be the main reasons dogs are rehomed=

• Over 50% of dogs given up for rehoming are given up by women, compared to 17% by men and 27% by couples who made the decision jointly
• Dogs given as Christmas presents still having an impact on rehoming as January is the busiest month for Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations
• Almost half of owners giving up a dog arranged for their dog to be collected rather than dropping them off themselves
• Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations rehomed over 20,000 dogs in 2013,  more than Dogs Trust and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home combined

Dog owners’ lack of research before buying is resulting in tens of thousands of dogs being rehomed each year the Kennel Club warns, as new research revealed women aged between 35-44 are more likely to give their dogs away to be rehomed than their male counterparts, with some 17% of dogs being rehomed by male owners.

The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs, also revealed lifestyle changes, a lack of training, and time to adequately look after the family pet are the main reasons why dogs are rehomed.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “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. 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.  

“Every year dogs are abandoned or given up when the novelty wears off. Dogs are a lifelong commitment and anyone considering getting a pet needs to be sure that they will be able to properly care for the animal for the rest of its life.”

Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations last year rehomed over 20,000 dogs, according to a survey of 329 breed rescues, more than two of the UK’s largest dog rescue organisations combined. January was revealed to be the busiest month, highlighting the impact of many families being unprepared for getting a dog and potentially still purchasing them as a Christmas gift, despite advice to the contrary. More than one in three breed rescue organisations reported an increase of dogs needing to be rehomed compared with 2012.

Caroline continued: “Although not as well-known as other organisations, Kennel Club Breed Rescues work incredibly hard to support their breed. They are set up and run by people passionate about dogs and their particular breed in particular. There is a breed rescue organisation for almost every one of the 212 breeds of pedigree dog in the UK, and more than one in three of the breed rescue organisations also accept crossbreeds as well as pedigrees.

“Breed rescue is a fantastic place to consider when looking for a dog. 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.”

Visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/findarescuedog  to find a Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisation near you.