Page 26 - PET worldwide issue 03/2021

Markets

Photo: Pixabay, Blender Time

The impact of Covid-19

on pets in the UK

For ten years now, the PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report has pro-

vided a comprehensive annual insight into the development of
pet ownership in the United Kingdom. The latest report looks in
particular at whether the coronavirus pandemic has affected
animal welfare and how great its impact has been.

“While the initial dataset was Significant changes their main meals since the start of
10% collected from both a represent- 10.9 mio cats, 10.1 mio dogs and lockdown. The pandemic also had
one million small animals are cur-
an effect on the weight of pets: 8
ative sample of UK pet owners
and the veterinary profession rently kept as pets in the UK. 51 per cent of dog owners said their
of dog owners said that they
had fed their pet more human in February, it quickly became per cent of the UK population pet had gained weight during this
food as part of their main clear that the Covid-19 pan- owns any type of pet. The post- period. This figure is higher than
meals since the start of demic and the UK-wide lock- lockdown findings highlighted sig- cat owners (6 per cent) and rabbit
lockdown.
down were likely to have an nificant changes to diet, behav- owners (3 per cent).
impact on the wellbeing of our iour, companionship and health Differences were also detected
nation’s pets,” states the intro- but no changes with regard to any with regard to pet behaviour dur-
duction to the report, which was of the questions the researchers ing the pandemic. 20 per cent of
produced by the leading veteri- asked about the provision of a dog owners and 23 per cent of
nary charity PDSA together with pet’s environmental needs, ac- cat owners who had owned their
the market research company cording to the report summary. pet prior to lockdown reported
YouGov. Covid-19 prompted the 16 per cent of dog owners, 17 per that their pet had started show-
charity to conduct a further rep- cent of cat owners and 14 per cent ing at least one new behaviour
resentative survey of pet own- of rabbit owners said that they had trait since restrictions began in
ers in August, focusing in par- fed more treats since the start of March 2020. The most commonly
ticular on the aspects of pet ac- lockdown. More dog owners (10 reported new behaviour trait
quisition, preventive healthcare per cent) than cat owners (5 per among dogs was to show signs
and behaviour, which changed cent) and rabbit owners (6 per of distress when left alone (5 per
during the pandemic and lock- cent) said that they had fed their cent) and to spend more time in
down. pet more human food as part of the quiet areas of the house (5

26 PET worldwide 3|2021

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