Page 7 - Clinical Connections - Autumn 2023

Canine welfare
age for import (15 weeks), indicating an Battersea, UFAW, SCAS, Research puppies and dogs in the UK and their
increasing reliance on the illegal importation England Quality-Related Research implications for canine welfare. Working
of puppies to meet demand. The RVC team Strategic Priorities Funding, The Kennel closely with the charity sector, veterinary
is now exploring this area in detail, including Club Charitable Trust and Dogs Trust. profession and pet industry to keep abreast
public knowledge and perceptions of the Results of this work have been presented of rapid changes and emerging concerns,
risks and benefits of importing puppies, to internationally and achieved widespread it is likely that RVC canine welfare research
understand how to best tackle this issue from media coverage. Most recently, findings will continue to be world-leading for years
a human behaviour change perspective. from the ongoing longitudinal study to come.
In addition to increases in numbers of of Pandemic Puppies were cited at a
puppies with passports, the team has Commons Environment committee,
identified demographic changes in the dog investigating pet welfare and abuse in the
population during and after the pandemic. wake of the pandemic, which received BBC
‘Designer crossbreeds’, intentional crosses news coverage.
of two or more purebred ‘progenitor’ breeds In addition to the impact on national and
boomed in popularity during this period, international stakeholders in canine welfare,
including cockapoos (cocker spaniel X the project has supported the academic
poodles) and Cavapoos (Cavalier King development of students at both the RVC
Charles spaniels X poodles). and external institutes, including one PhD
The team identified that positive student, four master’s students, and four
perceptions of good health, trainability, BVetMed students.
suitability with children and hypoallergenicity
driving acquisitions, despite a lack of What does the future hold?
evidence to support these traits. They The team’s endeavour to keep abreast of
are currently analysing novel data on the emerging welfare problems in the UK dog
health, husbandry and behaviour of popular population has led to the development of
designer crossbreeds versus their purebred new projects in 2023 and beyond, including
progenitor breeds. an exploration of the impact of the cost-
RVC’s Pandemic Puppies research of-living crisis on the Pandemic Puppy For small animal referrals, please call:
01707 666399
has been enabled by a range of sources, longitudinal cohort, and characterising Email:
including the Animal Welfare Foundation, private and commercial rehoming of older qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk

RVC publish the first Funding from Research Funding from Dogs
evidence of pandemic- England to explore the Funding from Kennel Club Trust to characterise
related changes to longer-term effects of Charitable Trust to explore RVC publish the first commercial/private
puppy-buying, identifying the pandemic upon differences in health, evidence of the impact Funding from Research Presentations at re-homing and re-selling
concerning changes that Funding from UFAW puppy-purchasing behaviour and husbandry of being acquired and England to explore public UK events including systems for dogs aged
threaten dog welfare. to characterise designer behaviour, studying of ‘designer’ crossbreeds raised during the understanding of and International Society for >16 weeks in the UK and
Press coverage included crossbreed acquisition UK puppy acquisitions versus their purebred pandemic upon early-life attitudes towards puppy Anthrozoology Annual their implications for
The Guardian in the UK during 2021 parent breeds experiences and health importation to the UK Conference canine welfare.

2020
£ £ £ £ £

£ 2021 £ 2022 £ 2023 £

Funding from Animal Funding from Battersea Presentations at UK Funding from Society Presentations at RVC publish evidence Funding from Battersea RVC publish the first
Welfare Foundation to longitudinally study events including London for Companion Animal international institutes regarding how and to explore the impact of evidence that the
to explore motivations a cohort of puppies Vet Show, ESRC Festival Studies to explore including University of why designer crossbreed the Cost-of-Living Crisis pandemic continued
and behaviours of UK purchased during the of Social Science, the impact of puppy Guelph and Atlantic puppies are acquired on canine welfare in the to impact puppy-buying
owners acquiring puppies pandemic to explore and the All-Party acquisition during the Veterinary College, in the UK, shedding Pandemic Puppies in 2021, including a
during the COVID-19 effects on their Parliamentary Dog pandemic upon the Canada, and UK events light on this growing cohort year-on-year increase
pandemic behaviour, welfare and Advisory Welfare Group mental wellbeing of including Association of phenomenon in the sale of puppies
relinquishment-risk families with children Dogs and Cats Homes with passports. Press
Conference and UFAW coverage including
Annual International BBC articles
Conference

Autumn 2023 7