Dog ownership soaring during pandemic

As the country ground to a halt in March last year, millions of people found themselves with an abundance of free time and the opportunity to welcome a new furry friend.

Figures show that 2.1 million Brits picked up a new pet since the first lockdown.

Amongst those was Jill and Stephen Waites from Berkshire, who bought their Cavapoo, named Lottie, just before the second national lockdown.

Since then, Lottie has helped them deal with feelings of isolation and has brought a new-found joy to their lives. “She’s been worth every penny,” Jill said.

Meanwhile, rescue centres have had to cope with an increased demand for dogs, having received hundreds of adoption applications a week at the height of the pandemic.