MORE people are considering putting their dogs up for adoption since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

This is according to the Dogs Trust which has seen an increase of 35 per cent in calls related to people wanting to give up their dogs.

This rise has happened in the last few weeks, and is thought to be because people are reconsidering owning a pet due to the easing in lockdown restrictions.

During the pandemic, sales of puppies soared with people spending more time at home - as did the price, reaching an average of £2,237.

The Dogs Trust, which has a rescue centre in Shoreham, said that the "giving up your dog" pages of its website has seen a traffic surge of more than 100 per cent compared to in February 2021.

Owen Sharp, the charity's chief executive, said: "Following the boom in pet ownership during the pandemic, which saw millions of us delighting in the companionship of a dog, today's figures have sadly come as no surprise to us.

"As owners' circumstances change, puppies grow into boisterous teenagers, and the country unlocks, many owners are being forced to reconsider the place in their lives for their pet."

The Argus: Dogs Trust is seeing a rise in people considering giving up their dogsDogs Trust is seeing a rise in people considering giving up their dogs

Earlier this year, the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association said a total of 3.2 million households in the UK had acquired a pet since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

The biggest rise in new owners were people aged between 16 and 34, with this age group making up 50 per cent of new pet owners.

It is estimated by the pet association that there are now about 34 million pets in the UK, including 12 million dogs.

Animal shelters have been concerned about this with fears the country is heading for a "puppydemic".

This led the RSPCA to put out advice for people to adopt a pet rather than buy from an unknown breeder.

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