Promoting Safe & Responsible Dog Adoption

South Yorkshire Police is raising awareness about responsible dog adoption, to ensure that anyone considering bringing a new pet into their home understands the importance of rehoming from reputable rescue centres and avoiding purchasing dogs from social media without thorough checks.

This crucial warning from specialized officers comes in response to recent incidents where two young children suffered dog bites after their families acquired dogs through social media platforms or rehoming processes lacking proper assessments.

Dog Liaison Officer Rachael Attwell provides valuable insights into the rise of incidents involving dogs obtained through social media. She explains, “We are witnessing an alarming increase in dangerous dogs and incidents of dogs behaving aggressively in our communities, causing fear and harm.”

Attwell continues, “We have observed a growing trend where dogs recently purchased or acquired through social media are involved in such incidents. Sellers often conceal a dog’s behavioural issues in their advertisements, irresponsibly passing the problem onto unsuspecting new owners.”

In light of these concerns, we urge anyone considering adding a new dog to their family to prioritize rehoming from reputable animal shelters or purchasing from trustworthy and genuine sellers.

Dogs rehomed through rescues have undergone extensive behavioural assessments to determine their compatibility with children, including young ones. On the other hand, sellers on social media platforms are primarily focused on selling dogs and may not have your family’s best interests at heart, potentially leading to devastating consequences.