Up to half a million dogs in the capital could be left without a home by Christmas, as 16 per cent of dog owners admit they’re looking to put their dog up for adoption.

According to the research commissioned by raw and natural pet food expert Natures Menu, over a third (35 per cent)* of dog owners in London have expressed regret for purchasing their pet. The shocking revelations come as 35 per cent of dog parents in the capital admit that they felt they didn’t have enough expert advice and guidance to help them through the struggles of pet ownership. As a result, one in every twenty Londoner dog owners would go as far to say that they would not recommend getting a puppy or dog to those that may be considering welcoming a pet into their home.

Those from London were the second most likely to consider giving their dog up for adoption because of a bad experiences across the whole of the UK after Birmingham.

The worrying revelations follow reports of a huge spike in Brits opting to purchase or adopt a dog since the UK went into lockdown on March 23rd. Over a quester of dog owners in London admitted their purchase was related to their children pestering or to keep them entertained, whilst 21 per cent said it was an impulse purchase and 13 per cent stated that lockdown was the reason why they welcomed a dog into their family.

To combat the issue of the concerning number of dogs that are likely to be made homeless potentially by Christmas, Natures Menu has launched a podcast to address the key concerns for new dog owners, from weaning puppies to socialising with other dogs and humans, as well as top training tips for misbehaving dogs.

Melanie Sainsbury, Veterinary Education Manager at Natures Menu, said: “Getting a dog is a massive commitment and careful consideration needs to be made before choosing to purchase or adopt one. It’s heart-breaking to hear that so many dogs are at risk of not having a loving home in London and that pet owners feel they don’t have enough advice on how to deal with bringing a dog into the home. This is why we launched The Pupcast to help alleviate some of the pressures of being a new pet parent.”

‘The Pupcast’ is available to listen and download from Spotify, Acast, Google Podcasts and iTunes. New customers can receive a 20% discount on orders over £30 when quoting PUPCAST20 at the checkout.