A fifth of dog owners believe it’s acceptable to leave their dogs home alone for more than 24 hours.
Now the RSPCA is urging the public to be aware of separation anxiety and urging dog owners to ensure they have considered care for their pets as the busy Christmas season approaches.
As part of the charity’s #DogKind campaign, a new survey revealed that 21% of dog owners felt it was acceptable to occasionally leave a dog alone for more than 24 hour, while 39% said their dog was home alone for seven or more hours on an average day.
BUSY TIME
RSPCA #DogKind campaign manager Daisy Hopson said: “The festive season is nearly upon us and we know that it’s a busy time of year for most families. As people prepare for office parties, long days out Christmas shopping and plan to go away for the holidays, it’s extremely important that dog owners consider their pets, too.
“For those dogs who are happy being left home alone we recommend leaving them for no more than four hours at a time.”
The aim of the #DogKind campaign – launched in March – is to help owners better understand their dogs’ emotional needs and raise awareness of separation related behaviour, especially the fact that it is preventable and treatable.
