8-Week-Old Puppy Becomes ‘First Christmas Dog’ Dumped in the UK

According to reports in the United Kingdom, a dog bought online as a Christmas present, became the first dog to be dumped at a U.K. rescue home in 2018.

The eight-week-old, named Ronnie, was dumped at the Battersea Dogs and Cats home in south London, England, on Tuesday, Jan. 2, the Daily Mail reported. The dog is undergoing medical checks, and the home told the Mail that the pup is staying with a staff member and will soon be ready for rehoming.

The owner of the pup lost their home and was not able to take care of the animal, the report said.

Staff member Alice Holt told the paper: “Ronnie has only been at home with me for one night but he is settling in so well. He’s so affectionate, even with new people, and loves a cuddle and a fuss. He also loves playing with toys and running around the kitchen. He’s such a sweet boy.”

Home intake manager Steven Craddock told the publication: “It doesn’t shock any of us that the first dog through our doors in 2018 was bought online.”

“Ronnie is just one of many thousands of dogs who will be bought off an unregulated website in the coming months and end up in a home where the owner is unprepared and unable to take proper care of them,” Craddock told the Metro newspaper. “His new owner did the right thing by bringing him into us where we can look after him and find him a loving new home, which we doubt will take long as he’s such a lovely boy.”

He continued, “However, this doesn’t change the fact that he never should have been sold online in the first place. We believe he may have been taken from his mother far too young and likely sold by a breeder with absolutely no regard for his welfare.”

The home added that more than 20,000 pets in the United Kingdom will be dumped over the winter.

Craddock said, “I’d encourage anyone thinking of welcoming a new pet into their lives to consider rescue over shopping online.”

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