Do you walk the dog every day?
24 Jul 2008 08:42
A NEW report has revealed that millions of Brits are neglecting their dogs by not giving them enough exercise.
A poll of 2,000 owners showed that one in ten never walk their dog and almost a third do so only twice a week at the most.
Those who do exercise their animals might not be doing it enough, as a quarter of people admitted they merely walked around the block.
More than a third said they made do with throwing a ball in the park for a few minutes. And around 60 per cent described walking their dog as ‘a chore,’ while one in 20 said they let their dog run around in the garden rather than taking them out.
Veterinary advisor Chris Sergeant, speaking for Fit Fur Life, which conducted the survey, said: “This research shows that owners have a huge lack of knowledge when it comes to maintaining the right fitness, feeding and exercise levels for their pets.
Weekends
“They neglect to walk dogs during the week but expect them to go for long walks or runs on a Saturday or Sunday. Owners are treating their pets like bicycles which are only taken out of the shed at weekends.
“People should not keep animals unless they are able to care for them properly; when dogs are unfit, overweight and sluggish they are often depressed as well.”