RVC Pandemic Puppies team publishes first paper
The AWF-funded Pandemic Puppies survey aims to explore if and how the early lives of ‘Pandemic Puppies’ differed from those purchased before the pandemic. This research will identify vulnerabilities to the health, behaviour, and welfare of this Pandemic Puppy population, and inform educational messaging and initiatives to promote better ways to safeguard their futures.
The online survey closed on 31 December 2020 and attracted 7545 responses. The first paper detailing the behaviour and motivations of owners who purchased puppies during the pandemic in 2020 has now been published in the ‘open access journal’ (free for all to access) Animals.
Information obtained from this study will help provide advice and guidance to owners who may have experienced problems purchasing their puppy, as well as supporting prospective puppy buyers in the future to avoid similar pitfalls.
The results of this survey are currently being further analysed with a focus on the puppies themselves: exploring their demographics (e.g., breed), early socialisation experiences, health and behaviour of Pandemic Puppies. This second paper will also be published in an open access journal, hopefully by Winter 2021. We will share the results of this study via the RVC website and social media channels.
Visit https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/research-projects-and-opportunities/projects/rvc-pandemic-puppies-survey to find out more.
