There’s no denying that there has been a rise in the demand for buying and adopting dogs since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic first began.
Getting a dog may have even been a thought you’ve had yourself over the last 10 months.
After all, life as we once knew it was flipped on its head, leaving many with more time on their hands than they are usually used to.
And with this unprecedented adjustment to lifestyle, came an influx of enquiries to breeders, rescue / adoption centres, and more, by those keen to welcome a four-legged friend into their lives thanks to the newly-introduced requirement to stay at home, and it even saw Pets4Homes – one of the UK’s largest online pet marketplaces – reveal that a total of 466,601 dogs have been advertised on the site so far, with the average prices also increasing by 131%.
It also found that the demand for puppies was 51% greater than dogs aged one or older between July and September last year.
It’s these very statistics, along with several other factors which will be touched upon, that have lead a number of animal experts to recently issue a warning of an impending “major dog welfare crisis” following this sharp rise in the number of dogs being sold online.
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Why is this the case?
Well, many will say it’s inevitable that when there is a recorded rise in the number of people looking to buy or adopt a dog, and then successfully doing so, that there will then be a rise in the number of dogs abandoned as a consequence – and they would be right.
The RSPCA has responded to 5,955 reports about abandoned dogs since the start of the pandemic.
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And Rory Cowlam – a vet and ambassador for the RSPCA – sadly told Sky News that he expects to see the number of dogs being abandoned spike even further this year, explaining that: “Abandonments are going to happen because people have got puppies on a whim. They’ve been putting off getting a dog for years and years, they’re suddenly furloughed or they’re at home more, and they think now’s the right time to get a dog.”
Mr Cowlam also added that the rising demand has also led to worrying “increases in puppy theft and, unfortunately, increases in things like puppy farming and irresponsible breeding”.
Dr Samantha Gaines – a dog welfare specialist at the RSPCA – also devastatingly agreed that: “We’ve probably yet to see the worst to come.”
She continued: “We’re now into the third lockdown in England and people still are at home with their puppies that they bought last year, some people will be thinking about getting puppies now. If there is anyone at this moment in time that is thinking about getting a dog or a puppy because they’re at home, we’d urge people to be very very careful and to make sure they do their research.”
Dr Gaines too warned that “now is probably the greatest time ever you’d be caught out by someone”.
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Ira Moss – co-founder of the dog welfare, rescue and rehoming charity All Dogs Matter – said that the online market for dogs has become a “lucrative” and “unscrupulous trade” due to a lack of regulations.
She said: “They’re being multi-sold, so one dog can turnover, can transact £5,000 to £10,000 if it’s sold three times. It’s become such a commodity, a dog. At some point, there’s got to be a saturation point – this can’t carry on forever, it’s just not practical.”
Ms Moss added: “It’s just so sad – we’re a nation of dog lovers and we’ve created this monster.”
But what is the current situation here in Greater Manchester when it comes to dog welfare, given all the worrying alerts recently raised?
Has there been a rise in the number of people looking to adopt a dog, and then a rise in subsequent abandonment figures? How are our region’s rescue centres coping amid one of the toughest global challenges in modern history? And have they noticed a shift in public attitudes?
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We spoke to Emma Billington, founder and owner of Dogs 4 Rescue – an semi-rural Manchester-based independent dog sanctuary that has developed a unique “cage free” approach to animal welfare to ensure that all dogs are socialised in a healthy, relaxed and happy foster home environment, whilst waiting for their forever families – to get a grasp on the true picture.
Dogs 4 Rescue
“From our perspective, we have seen an enormous rise in the number of people looking for dogs.” Emma said.
“[We’ve had lots of] emails from people desperate to get a dog [and] the type of people have changed as well, it’s not necessarily the people looking to “rescue a dog”, but just people wanting dogs and either turning to the rescue for a cheaper dog ,or some just exhausting all avenues in what appears a desperate attempt to get any dog while they’re off.
“We’ve now got a huge waiting list of suitable homes [though] and we are no longer inundated with the people wanting to get rid of their dogs save for the ones who are really difficult, and therefore reasonably hard to rehome.
“[But this means that] the only dogs we have left are those with the most challenging behaviours needing experienced homes.
She continued: “We have seen the rapid increase in the dog population and know the dogs who are going to be flooding rescues over the next few months are all those who were bought as a response to COVID and when people realise they no longer have time for them.
“Also there is the issue of them having separation anxiety because they have been brought up in an artificial environment where family are at home,
“But in the future, as things change, they will suffer.
“Separation anxiety is one of the hardest things to deal with and trying to find homes for those able to help these dogs is almost impossible at the best of times”.
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Dogs 4 Rescue
Dogs 4 Rescue were previously at the forefront of the campaign urging Greater Manchester residents to carefully consider their situation before welcoming a dog into their lives during the first wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, insisting that “a dog is for life, not just for lockdown”.
And Emma also joins other experts in expressing her concerns over the rise in usage of the online pet marketplace.
“The only ones who have benefited from all of this is once again the breeders.” Emma continued.
“The demand and people desperate for dogs has ensured suffering on a much bigger scale than we have ever known, and [has also] driven a huge hike in the criminal activity of puppy smuggling [too].”
“The rescue world as we know it has changed for the foreseeable.
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“[And] we are currently buying a second site to try and get ready for the fallout of this”.
Emma admits that although it is difficult to deny that the current situation is “rather depressing” as we get underway with a new year, they are still “trying to ensure our moves are to give hope and inspire a different way of doing things”.
And they are doing an absolutely brilliant job.
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To help Dogs 4 Rescue continue its essential work across Greater Manchester, please consider donating whatever you can via the website, and for large donations or offers of corporate support, you email Emma Billington at [email protected] or ring 07412361769.
You can also keep up to date with Dogs 4 Rescue day-to-day on social media – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Feature
Five Greater Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this past month | March 2026
Danny Jones
Don’t look at us like that… It was a bank holiday, and we had a lot of stuff to sort before the long weekend – and a good chunk of that was spent listening to loads of Manc music, new and old, so just shut your trap and get ready for another batch of fantastic artists.
Seriously, though, we’re sorry you had to wait a few extra days than usual to get your latest fix of local tunes, but good things always come to those who wait.
If you happen to be new to this regular series of ours in 2026, it’s pretty much what it says on the tin: every month, we round up the stuff from in and around the Greater Manchester region that we’ve been listening to of late.
Simple as that. Let’s crack on, shall we?
1. Freak Slug
Born in Italy and now based in Manchester after studying in London, Xenya Genovese – a.k.a. ‘Freak Slug’ – is mixing trippy, shoegazey, alt-pop and rock sounds to great effect, which is even more impressive when you find out she produces pretty much everything herself.
There are notes of everything from Slow Pulp and Mazzy Star, to bits of Hazel English and Soccer Mommy; if you were thinking NewDad, too, you’d be absolutely right. In fact, the rising star is currently on tour with them over in North America after having played some domestic and European shows.
If you’re just getting started, we’d recommend two of her biggest hits, ‘Radio’ and ‘Friday’, as you’ll get a good broad strokes idea of her style, but we do love the slightly more Northern attitude and almost Kate Nash-esque no-nonsense of recent single ‘Honest Man’. You can find a snippet of her latest down below.
In at number two is Manchester’s answer to the country music scene – specifically, the growing host of fantastic female artists who are becoming increasingly influential in the space. If you’re a fan of Lainey Wilson, Ella Langley, Ashley Cooke, Alana Springsteen and the like, she’s right up your alleyway.
One of our own, if you’re a fellow British country fan who often suffers from a dash of impostor syndrome, you’ll be glad to hear she does her best work when she leans more into that some of that self-awareness and self-deprecation, highlighting what makes her different rather than trying to blend in.
It’s a trap that plenty of UK artists can fall into when trying to tap into a sound, but instead, this is what sets it apart; there are no better examples than ‘Past Life Cowgirl’ and ‘Don’t Give Me Hope’, which still show a pop sensibility that could see her playing arenas. And if you don’t like it, as the girl says, you can ‘Kiss [Her] Accent’.
We spoke to her at our first taste of C2C music festival.
3. Ishango Bone
In at number three up is an up-and-coming band that technically has only one Spotify release as yet, along with a smattering of other raw recordings from gigs, etc. online, but they’re nonetheless one that has quickly caught our attention – and not least because of that moniker.
Taking on the same title as a 20,000-year-old ‘calculator’ found near the Nile River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (fall down the rabbit hole at your peril), choosing to name themselves after this gives you a little bit of insight into this curious, interesting, experimental and admittedly odd project.
Even their social media is pretty unique and eccentric, mirroring that somewhat detached, third-person voice used by the likes of Sleep Token, and talking about the project as if it were research into some new alien entity. Bit weird, but so are we, and we like it. New single ‘The Agency’ out on 24 April.
The Salford kid is still very early in his career. It was only back in February 2023 that a then 12-year-old Denton won Marr’s eponymous award from the Salford Foundation Trust. However, since then, the young man has clearly got the right people around him as his sound is already coming across well-developed.
He doesn’t have tonnes out yet, so you might as well complete his discography. Thus far, you can hear influences of Britpop legend Richard Ashcroft, but also fellow Wiganers, the Stanleys, but it’s still too early to tell where he’ll go. All we know is it’s uplifting indie that’s perfect for a spring soundtrack.
5. The Cavs
Last but not least, we have The Cavs, who feel like they’ve been around forever because, well, it has been a good seven years or so since their very first song. We feel like we’ve caught them at festivals here and there, but never quite seen them have their one breakout moment. Could it be coming this year?…
The local lads are back after a little break, having last released music this time last year, but there feels like a fresh wave of momentum might be about to take them onto that next level, as we’re once again seeing them all over our algorithm. They’ve always had a big sound, but it deserves a bigger following.
We might still have a soft spot for the anthemic, 90s/early noughties feel of ‘Find A Way’, and we still maintain that ‘Headshot’ has one of the most addictive intros and recurring riffs we’ve any contemporary rock band could hope to write, but their new release ‘Hallowed Ground’ is well worth a listen to, as well.
So there you have it: another round-up to wrap up Q1 of this year’s journey through Manchester’s musical scene.
As always, we’re looking for new suggestions all the time, so let us know who you’re listening to at the minute – or rather who we should be – down in the comments.
Oh, and since you’re here, why not check out last month’s list?
Featured Images — Audio North/Press shots (supplied)
Feature
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Emily Sergeant -
27th January 2021 
