How Covid affected Animal Welfare

In 2019 FAITH was planning to expand to meet the demands placed on the rescue. Veterinary costs were rising, and appointments for operations were often unavailable for weeks. This delayed rehoming by blocking kennels and cattery spaces, preventing us from taking in other dogs and cats needing help until the space became free. Then, by what seemed to be a miracle, veterinary couple from across the country contacted us, and together with their expertise we set about converting an out-building into a Vet Unit. After their visit it was left that we apply for planning permission to add a small extension, and they would further assist us with sourcing equipment needed, and licensing applications once we were ready to proceed.

Sadly, Covid and subsequent lockdowns brought an abrupt end to our plans. As people found themselves stuck at home with extra time and, in many cases extra money, there was a sudden spike in demand for new or additional pets. Animals were being sold online at inflated prices, including many unneutered kittens, puppies, cats and dogs. To ‘cash in’ on such a lucrative market many deliberately bred and sold kittens and puppies or their own unwanted pets.

Consequently, the number of animals relinquished to Rescue Centres and Organisations across the country dropped to unprecedented lows. Only feral or ill kittens, old cats and dogs with health or behaviour issues found their way to welfare centres.

It would have been nice to assume that suddenly animal rescue charities were no longer needed as 99% of cats and dogs found a home. However, the reality was that this ‘fad’ had undone many years of hard work carried out by animal charities. FAITH had worked with travellers to reduce the number of dogs on their sites, and neutering those that remained.

These years of work and success were undone in an instant as people were happy to buy puppies from travellers, backyard breeders, puppy farms and dealers. So many pet dogs were stolen to become breeding animals.

All the cat neutering that had been offered at reduced rates or by charities like FAITH, trapping and neutering feral colonies, and educating the public about the thousands of kittens that can result from one unspayed female cat. (In five years, a female cat can be responsible for up to as many as 20,000 descendants) All this work was undone and forgotten with lockdowns, and it has been soul destroying.

In May 2020 we unfortunately had to furlough half of our staff due to the drastic drop in intake of both animals and funds. In February 2021 we reluctantly made four staff redundant as Covid continued to impact the Rescue. Many of our wonderful supporters helped us throughout by participating in our online fundraising, by purchasing masks that our fundraisers had made, and buying items from our Amazon Wishlist.

Unfortunately, pets were still being rehomed through selling, or re-selling on internet sites such as Preloved, Pet4Homes etc. or directly via social media platforms (giving no safety net or rescue backup for these poor animals or their new owner) Good money was made from selling pets, even stolen ones. Moggie kittens were fetching £300+ each with no veterinary treatment, a much smaller rescue donation included vaccination, neutering, microchipping, worming and rescue support, advice, and backup.

I will give just one example of many similar incidences;

It was 7 am and I was working in a kennel block which had a clear view into the office yard. A man arrived with a two year old liver and white Springer Spaniel, a very nice looking dog with an excellent coat type. I went out to the man and asked what he wanted. He told me that he had bought the dog two days earlier via facebook, and now wanted to get rid of the dog, and expected us to take it in immediately.

The poor dog had changed hands a few times (as had so many) People were buying on impulse, realising that dog ownership of a particular breed/type wasn’t really for them, and selling the dog on again. This of course made any slight behaviour worries a dog may have into a behaviour issue, as the poor animal becomes more and more insecure with every move. I said that we could take the dog but needed time to sort out a kennel space. He said his wife was back at 8 am and he HAD to “get rid” of the dog before she returned.

I asked if he would donate towards the cost of neutering, vaccinating etc. He was shocked, he had not long paid someone for the dog and now he was willing to just give it to me for nothing!! I pointed out that £200+ would have to be spent on veterinary costs, and we would have to house and rehabilitate the stressed dog, which would cost the rescue that was struggling for funds.

Anyway, he refused to spend anymore on the unwanted dog, so I took his “Gift” and kennelled him next to another “Gifted” Springer Spaniel. If I had not seen him at that time of the morning, I believe he would either have left the dog tied or just let him loose. Dogs with issues such as separation anxiety or dog reactivity take time to rehabilitate and retrain before being ready to rehome.

These “problem dogs” are the victims of Covid, furlough and lockdowns. They were also mainly the dogs in rescues across the land. Therefore, we constantly saw on social media people maintaining that they had tried to get a dog or puppy from rescue centres, but they didn’t have anything suitable, so they simply just “had” to go and buy a puppy. Which many convinced themselves they had “rescued” from a traveller, backyard breeder, or some other exploiter of a poor dog, possibly stolen, now breeding bitch, supplying the demand for their puppy and others like them. Many dismissed the fact that because of their need for immediate gratification of dog ownership, their puppy’s poor mother will be bred again and again.

This is how it went through lockdowns. Dogs, cats and even horses suddenly had a demand, and hence a large commercial value. It wasn’t to last, although it has taken longer than first thought for the fallout to begin.

It was Autumn 2021 before we were able to welcome back school and college work experience students, other groups and volunteers.

Volunteers are hard to find, so I am adding a poem to this post that was written by a ‘Cat lady’ volunteer many years ago when buildings were not as easy to clean, it also features on our adoption packs.

Why Volunteer?

Its cold, its raining the muds inches deep,

Why am I here when I could be asleep?

Some cats are purring, some scratching and hissing,

The Bedding needs changing, the litter trays stinking,

When I said I would help, what was I thinking?

Washing up piled high, you cant call it fun,

If there were this much at home, it wouldn't get done!

The Jobs aren't all pleasant, the pay? Non existent,

other calls on my time are just as persistent,

And yet every week I turn up for my spot,

of cleaning and feeding, to give what I've got,

So why do we do it, why volunteer?

To work with the animals who are resident here?

When its so very simple to stay at home in the dry -

Its not at all easy to understand why.

The inmates cant thank us, some are even quite rude!

"We don't want a cuddle just give us our food!"

But in spite of all this they all touch your heart,

One way or another, each one can impart.

The feeling they need you to show that you care -

It's never their fault they ended up there.

If only more people would give it a try

It wouldn't take long - and they'd understand why.

This coincided with the slowdown in demand for pets. Puppy farmers and dealers began to rid themselves of their extra breeding stock and return to their pre-pandemic breeding numbers.

We helped rescue some of the ex-breeding dogs from Northern Ireland that had been supplying the “puppy demand” in the South East of England. We took in a mixture of lovely dogs from Labradors, Boxers, Schnauzers, Spaniels, through to Shih Tzu and Chihuahuas (and everything in between).

So relieved were many of these lovely dogs to be rescued, that when a volunteer ‘lost’ a frightened little terrier whilst out on a walk, which high-tailed it into the distance and disappeared, having only been at FAITH a couple of days, it made its way back two nights later. We had left the kennel block door open, and her kennel door too, just in case! I was delighted to see her laying in her cosy bed when I went to check in the early morning.

We also had a six-week-old Maltese puppy that couldn’t be sold by the breeder and was to be destroyed. By pure fate he was rescued within minutes of an unhappy end to his little life. We named him Sandals, he was a tiny white ball of fluff but was born without any back feet. He made good progress with his smart, special booties, and was unaware that he had anything wrong with him.

A Short lived helping hand

At this time we were fortunate to be offered the use of another Rescue’s onsite Veterinary Clinic. This worked well for both Rescues. Meaning that we could get veterinary work done at a reduced rate, and in a much shorter time frame. Which allowed for us to get dogs into their new homes quicker, freeing up space for other dogs to be rescued. Our custom brought additional funds to the other Rescue and helped to keep their vet busy, plus their vet really enjoyed working with our lovely rescue dogs.

Sadly, and suddenly, this arrangement was withdrawn. Trying to get these poor dogs treated and neutered through commercial vets was taking far too long, since appointments were few and far between. They would also only treat one condition at a time, and many required more than just neutering. Unfortunately, it became too time consuming and expensive to continue helping these poor animals, which still upsets me to this day. Sadly, it was the animals that paid the real price for the puppy/kitten demand of Covid. So many problems are caused when it is so easy to sit at home on the internet and buy a pet on impulse.

How FAITH is working now Post Covid

It was all very distressing and disheartening. It has been a hard and slow process of recovery since. So many problems were caused to animal charities, dog training clubs, animals and people. We are now in the process of completing our own Veterinary Unit, though we have not gone ahead with an extension at this stage. We have taken on other ideas that were suggested and created two free-run areas, one in the top paddock, and the other in the menage (where we raised the fencing height) We have been given quite a lot of agility equipment which we have put out in the menage. We now spend more time per dog for training and socialisation, so that animals don’t become long-stayers and can find a home in a more reasonable timeframe. Although veterinary delays still occur, the amount of dogs we take in at any one time is reduced to meet the new problems.

The floor has at last been replaced in the Office/Reception/On-site shop. The carpet tiles that were in there had been given to us by Redwings when they were redoing their office and reception floor (for which we were very grateful. However, after twenty plus years, and with dogs (and even donkeys) peeing on them, scrubbing them just enhanced the smell and they had to go! The staff have painted the walls, and it is looking and smelling a lot nicer. We have also painted and improved the public toilet, which now has a hand-dryer. We have a larger parking area for visitors and volunteers. Animal adoptions are still done via an appointment system due to our reduced staff numbers.

Our service and focus have changed to meet the more extensive behaviour and rehabilitation needs of the animals coming into our rescue homes. We will continue to adapt as situations change. This brief overview of what we have endured over the last 4 years. Thank you for your support and patience in waiting for an update on FAITH, but as you can see time and focus was needed elsewhere.

Final words.... A poem by Claire

Covid lockdown, Oh! What can I do?

Maybe I’ll get a dog or two

The Government says, “only one walk a day”

If I get a dog, I’ll be okay.

I’ve done some research, Googled and saw

That they will deliver direct to my door.

A Cockerpoo because it won’t shed

I will even let it sleep on my bed.

I got what I wanted, so really don’t care

Of its past or cause of despair

It’s mine now, I love taking it out

And really enjoy showing it about.

Now Covid is over, my decision is tough

But the dog has to go, I’ve had enough!

It screams when it’s left, it barks on the lead

Why did I get such a stupid breed?

It’s nervous of dogs and of strangers too

It has really become quite an issue.

I’ll take it to a Rescue or give it away.

I might get another breed someday.

But for now, a dog doesn’t fit my life,

I have a new job, baby and wife.

Claire.