An increase in the number of puppies who came into RSPCA care last year has raised fears that people may still be impulse-buying young dogs they aren’t ready for, years after the first post-pandemic puppy boom.

In 2023, 569 dogs under the age of one arrived in the care of the animal charity - either through the frontline officers or members of the public.

This compares to 355 in 2022 and 378 in 2021 - marking a 50% increase in two years. 

Speaking directly to the centre manager at Stokenchurch rescue Stephen Rockell, he said that their rescue home has had a few worrying cases this year of abandoned puppies. 

"This year we have had quite a few puppies," he said. "We had three earlier in the year that were brought to us. They had been found in a plastic bag in the local area. 

"They had just been discarded in the bushes. One of them was actually very ill and we nursed them back to health."

Mr Rockwell went on to say that all three puppies have now been rehomed. 

There was also another recent case at the rescue centre where four puppies were handed in with their mother. 

"They were seized by the police from someone trying to sell them on the street. The puppies were just five days old," he said. 

During the Covid pandemic, there was a huge surge in people buying puppies during the lockdowns and government restrictions.

There’s concern this led to an increase in dogs with behaviour problems, as young puppies weren’t socialised properly due to the country being in lockdown, while some new owners may have not been ready for the long-term commitment of dog ownership.

This led to more animals being taken into RSPCA care after families weren’t able to care for reasons including complex behaviour issues.

But the spike in the intake of young dogs last year has raised concerns that people are still impulse buying puppies - then having to give them up when they can’t cope.

However, Connie from Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary in Ascot said that their home hasn't seen an influx in puppies being brought in, but still is getting a fair amount of adult dogs. 

"We've had no calls to take in any abandoned puppies, not since covid or even before," she said. 

"You just don't get abandoned puppies in our areas in our days. People are much more responsible and they spay their bitches."