Pets sold online could be forced to endure horrendous living conditions, vets warn

Cats and dogs for sale online could be suffering horrendous living conditions, Battersea Dogs and Cats home has warned.

The animal shelter has told potential owners not to be duped into buying a pet through social media or unregulated apps and websites, revealing that 20 per cent of the dogs left at the centre over the past year were originally bought online.

Recent research found a dog advert is created online every two minutes and one appears every five minutes for a cat, suggesting many animals are at risk of harm.

Last month Nimbus, a four-week-old kitten, was collected by his new owner after being bought through a car boot sale app. The kitten was picked up in agony, burnt and covered in his own urine, and it took weeks of full-time treatment by vets and carers at the charity to recover.

Bear, a St Bernard dog, was left at the home in recent weeks after he was bought online from a rogue vendor. He arrived covered in fleas, with an infected eye, warts, and chewing gum in his tail, a charity spokesman said.

Shaun Opperman, Battersea’s head vet, said: “Nimbus was far too young to be separated from his mother when he was sold online. He came into us in a terrible state as he couldn’t clean himself properly and he clearly wasn’t being fed properly as he was seriously underweight. Our veterinary team had to step in and play the role of mother, helping him feed and learn to groom himself, as well as administering treatment for his eye infections and upset stomach.

“His story goes to show the huge risks people run when they buy online – there’s absolutely no guarantee they’re buying what’s been advertised and, as in this case, many of the animals sold online have received little or no veterinary treatment, leaving them helpless. We can pick up the pieces for those fortunate enough to come through our gates but there are thousands more sold each day that we will never see.”

Both Nimbus and Bear are now well and living with their new owners in London.

• To rehome a rescue animal visit www.battersea.org.uk.