HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC CHANGED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OWNERS AND THEIR DOGS? HERE’S WHAT DOG OWNERSHIP IN AUSTRALIA LOOKS LIKE

At the start of the pandemic, Australia witnessed a flurry of banana bread baking and toilet paper shortages.

We also saw a puppy-buying frenzy.

It made sense. People who couldn’t have a dog because of rarely being home or long work hours were suddenly able to.

A 2021 report from Animal Medicines Australia (AMA) found that Australia had a substantial boom in pet ownership throughout the pandemic, with more than 1 million dogs being brought into Australian households since 2019.

So, given that it’s International Dog Day today, let’s look at whether the pandemic strengthened or worsened relationships between owners and their pets.

What does Australia’s ‘typical dog’ look like?

AMA’s report found that in 2021, the typical Australian pet dog was most likely a young, medium-sized purebred, acquired through a breeder.

Common purebreds named were labradors and golden retrievers, English and American Staffordshire terriers, German shepherds and Jack Russell terriers.

One in five dogs (19 per cent) were reportedly bought since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

Those most likely to have bought a dog since the pandemic began were inner-city dwellers and households with primary school-aged children.

AMA also revealed that the price of dogs was on the rise, with 22 per cent of all pet dogs in Australia costing more than $1,000 at the time they were bought.

This is up from 15 per cent in 2019.

Are more dogs being returned? What are the reasons for giving them up?

For those who felt trapped at home during lockdowns, bringing home a new pup sounded like the ideal solution to cope with a period of uncertainty and loss.

But as more people return to work or school, they may realise they no longer have the time to care for a dog.

A spokesperson for RSPCA Queensland said the dogs that had been adopted and returned for various reasons had not been pandemic-related.

“We have a 14 day return policy, if for some reason that pet doesn’t work out in the adopter’s home and we haven’t seen a rise of animals being returned after adoption,” they said.

RSPCA NSW said their shelters across the state were experiencing less demand than those in other states.

“While we don’t yet have good data on the numbers of surrenders that have occurred during the pandemic, we do understand that this is occurring,” AMA’s executive director, Ben Stapley, told ABC News.

Mr Stapley said AMA’s report indicated that rather than being an impulse decision, “households saw that work-from-home arrangements created an opportunity to responsibly introduce a long-sought-after pet.”

“Households need to consider how they will meet all an animal’s needs, including food, socialisation, exercise and healthcare.”

Surrendering vs abandoning: What’s the difference?

On the occasion that a person can no longer care for their pet, we come to two unfortunate scenarios: surrendering and abandoning.

The surrender of dogs and other small mammals means giving them away to a reputable animal shelter, where they will be taken care of and don’t have to fend for themselves.

Global animal welfare organisation Four Paws said surrendering your pet means they will be given a better chance of finding a new home through adoption.

But this isn’t always the case.

Whether it’s because of overcrowding or lack of funding, many shelters are in a fragile state.

They can also be taken advantage of, with some people choosing to leave their unwanted pets outside the shelter, in the hope that they will take care of them.

This is where pet abandonment comes in, meaning pets are left to fend for themselves.

They are either left on the streets or in remote areas, where no one can witness them being abandoned.

In more cruel instances, puppies have been found in garbage bins or left on motorways.

Dog behaviour specialist and trainer Nathan Williams has had clients who have done this very act of cruelty.

“People get to a point where they feel helpless and ashamed. They don’t know what to do.”

Williams said many of us might be “too quick to banish” people who have abandoned a dog in their past.

“We need to remind them things like: people aren’t going to judge you, we understand that you’ve run out of options, but we’re here to help.”

What should people consider when buying a dog?

When it comes to buying a dog, especially if you’ve never owned a pet before, “doing research” goes beyond trawling on Google for a few hours.

President of Canine Control Council Queensland (also known as Dogs Australia) Ulla Greenwood told ABC News that people needed to go the extra mile when adding a furry friend to the family.

“Look at online forums and dog owner groups on social media. Go to dog shows and interact with different breeds in person,” she said.

“The most important thing is to find out what breed of dog might best suit your individual situation.”

‘Not every dog will suit every family, lifestyle or home’

A spokesperson for RSPCA Queensland said owners must “ensure you’re set up to care for your dog as a long-term companion.”

“Consider what you need to provide for them like food, water, shelter, veterinary trips, monthly worming and flea treatments, training and socialisation,” they said.

“It’s vital for people to understand that not every dog will suit every family, lifestyle or home.”

Surrendering your dog can be a very emotional process.

But it’s important to remember that surrendering your dog to a reputable rescue organisation is the best option if you can no longer keep them.

Greenwood says if anyone finds themselves in this position, a not-for-profit may be able to help advise them on their options, making sure abandonment isn’t one of them.

“There are so many resources and support groups online now,” she said.

“If you contact a Dogs Australia of your state or territory, you can speak to them about your situation and they will give you guidance on what to do from there.”