Mongrel pup becomes first Christmas as dog to be dumped this year

The year begins with an adorable puppy becoming the first unwanted Christmas pet to be abandoned. Eight-week-old mongrel Ronnie was dumped at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home on January 2.

Ronnie’s owner, whose ex-partner bought him online, left him there after they split and he became homeless.

He has now become the first unwanted pet at the south London rescue centre so far this year.

Home intake manager Steven Craddock said that it does not shock any of them that the first dog through our doors in 2018 was bought online.

He said, “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.”

He further added that the new owner did the right thing by bringing him to them where they can look after him and find him a loving new home.

"However, this doesn't change the fact that he never should have been sold online in the first place,” he went on to add.

In all probability, according to him, the pup may have been taken from his mother far too young and likely sold by a breeder with absolutely no regard for his welfare.

Ronnie is now undergoing assessment at Battersea and will be vaccinated and microchipped before he is ready to go to a loving new home.