YouGov : Just one in five pet owners adopt from rescues or animal charities

2020 was a busy year for the pet market as ownership in Great Britain surged in 2020, with some families turning to domestic animals as a source of comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a YouGov survey conducted in October, just over one in four (27%) Brits knew of someone who had acquired a new pet during lockdown. The jump in demand appears to be good news for the pet industry, which has seen prices for the Great Britain's most popular pet - dogs (28%) according to YouGov Profiles data - more than double during the first nationwide lockdown.

However, the increase in demand for pets during lockdowns may not be entirely good news. There are concerns that families who have recently bought or adopted pets, often for the very first time, may not have considered the long-term implications of such a decision. The prospect of life returning to normal combined with a deepening recession could raise fears that families will no longer have the time or money to effectively care for their pets.

In an attempt to stem the flow of dogs in need of adoption, various animal charities have called for prospective owners to adopt and not to shop for new pets.

According to YouGov Profiles data, only 20% of pet owners in Great Britain adopted their most recent furry friend from animal charities - despite two thirds (65%) believing that we should adopt animals instead of shopping for them. There may be a gap here between the values people hold and the reality of pet ownership.

In addition, fears have been raised over the suspected rise in puppy farming in the UK, with the illegal practice exploiting the increased levels of demand for puppies in 2020. Brits do appear to be largely against puppy farming - with just over three in five (61%) believing that breeding animals for money is cruel - but according to Profiles data, breeders are the most popular source of pets (23%). Owners have been advised to be weary of bad breeders and to report anything suspicious.

With the UK's most recent national lockdown likely to last until at least the end of March, the rise in pet ownership could continue into 2021. In fact, just over one in five (21%) Brits in our Profiles database say they plan on getting a pet, while 6% plan to acquire an animal companion within the next six months.