RSPCA in North Yorkshire worried about pet abandonment
They fear more pets could be given up after adopting them as lockdown companions
The RSPCA in North Yorkshire are worried that more pets will be surrendered to shelters or abandoned in the coming weeks as people head back to work.
They saw a record number of adoptions during throughout the last year due to lockdown, as people wanted to have a companion during the difficult months.
But now people will be planning on heading back to work now the coronavirus restrictions are easing, meaning pets could be left at home for long periods of time, neglected or given up to shelters.
Peter Gorbert is a general manager for the animal charity in North Yorkshire. He told Greatest Hits they were concerned about this from "the very start of lockdown".
He said: "As soon as the lockdown started and we saw this huge uptake in the number of people adopting animals, there was this big concern that people would eventually go back to normal and then realise they didn't have the time or patience to deal with an animal.
"Taking on an animal is a big responsibility. It takes a lot of time and costs a lot of money. Now we're quite far along from the first lockdown, I'm hoping people will have had the opportunity to have trained their pets properly so that they can cope when they go back to work and they won't need to give them up.
"We are prepared for the influx if it gets to that, but we want to give people enough advice and resources so that they don't have to give their pet up, so they can cope and enjoy their pet in a safe and ethical way.
"Sometimes it is the right decision for an animal to give it up, but if you do get to that point please do the right thing and take it to a shelter. Don't offer it up on Facebook or Gumtree because that's where people who carry out illegal activities with animals look for them."
Anyone who is wanting more information on how to prepare pets for when you go back to work can find out more here.