The Problem with Insta-Famous Pets

The internet has put photogenic pets in high demand. But for plain pups life can be ruff. Nat Ingham of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home gives  Rosanna Greenstreet paws for thought

Ordering online is second nature these days, be it for clothes, groceries or a takeaway. Now, apparently, the internet has evolved into a primary source for a somewhat livelier commodity: pets. And for Battersea, the world’s oldest rescue home for dogs and cats, this is a worrying new development. 

“People can impulse purchase: you are surfing the internet, you see cute pictures of puppies and kittens, you press a button, meet up somewhere and exchange some cash for a dog or a cat and you’re off. There are no checks to make sure that what you are getting is healthy or that yours is the right home for that animal,” explains Nat Ingham, who has worked at the sanctuary for11 years and is currently Canine Behaviour and Training Manager. 

With the rise of social media and the plethora of pugs, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and French bulldogs scattered across the Instagram accounts of famous celebrities like Paris Hilton, Sharon Osbourne and Reese Witherspoon, there is unprecedented demand for flat-faced dogs – and unscrupulous breeders are cashing in on this latest fashion. 

“These dogs are very cute,” says Nat. “They have neonatal features, so humans are very attracted to them. The problem is that, if you don’t get them from responsible breeders who do all the health checks on the adult animals before breeding to ensure that the puppies will be nice and healthy, you can end up with expensive veterinary bills. People just aren’t ready for that. Sadly, I think that’s why a lot of dogs are coming in to us. Over the past year, we have seen a lot more flat-faced dogs and many of them require surgery to assist with breathing.”

Battersea staff are also encountering animals that have been taken from their mothers too early. Recently a four-week-old kitten covered in his own urine was sold on a car boot sale app. The tiny white creature was rushed to Battersea by his new owner, who realised that he was far younger than advertised. Unable to clean himself properly and badly scalded from his own excrement, the kitten was also severely underweight and very frightened. At Battersea, however, he received a proper clean, staff naming him Nimbus because, after his bath, he resembled a fluffy cloud.  

“With really young kittens we often have to encourage them to feed, whether through bottle feeding to begin with or by trying to encourage them to eat solids,” explains Nat. “If they are with their littermates their mum will be eating, and kittens are interested in what mum is doing and follow suit. With no mum present, however, it can be hard to encourage a young kitten onto solid food. Quite often we will put a bit of wet food onto their paws, as they will naturally want to clean themselves and then, hopefully, they’ll get interested. Or perhaps we’ll pop a little dollop on their nose. It’s about encouraging them gradually.”

Once a cat or dog has been nursed back to health, the priority is to find the animal a home. Since its founding in 1860, Battersea has rescued, rehomed or reunited with their owners over 3.1 million dogs and (from 1883) cats. The charity receives extra help from 1000 volunteers and the support of celebrity ambassadors such as Amanda Holden, Dermot O’Leary, Sue Perkins and Jacqueline Wilson. At any one time, a total of around 300 dogs and 200 cats are being cared for at the South-West London site in Battersea and the two other centres at Old Windsor, Berkshire and Brands Hatch in Kent. And although the average residence is 38 days for a dog and 22 for a cat, there is no limit to how long an animal can stay. 

“Young dogs and old dogs tend to go quite quickly because of the ‘ahh’ factor. People fall in love with them easily, either wanting to give them a retirement home or to get a young puppy that they can really look after. The dogs that struggle are in the middle – effectively your teenagers – because you’re not getting them at a very young age, but you’ve still got them for the rest of their lives.”

The matching process for dogs and potential owners has little to do with an animal’s looks. 

“Everyone is keen to rehome dogs that look appealing or interesting, but we assess every dog and, when prospective owners come to us, we have a long conversation about their lifestyle and the sort of dog they want. Then we match them with the dog that we feel is most suitable. We want to ensure the best dog-and-person relationship that we can.”

That said, there is a general lack of enthusiasm for black dogs and cats, as they are not deemed so Instagram friendly. By contrast, singer Ella Eyre’s gingery felines Frank and Eddie – fluffy, flat-faced and with lovely tiger stripes – look great on social media.

 “Other colours can have slightly more unusual markings: black dogs and cats just don’t get noticed as much, as their features aren’t always as prominent. People will quite often pass them by,” admits Nat. 

“Still, I’d hope that no one would ignore a black animal simply because it won’t photograph as well on Instagram. Some of them are stunning. If you get them in the right light, there’s something quite magical about them.”  

Certain breeds, too, are less instantly appealing. 

“What’s sad is that we get lots of greyhounds and they all kind of look the same. They tend to do well in kennels, so they will quite happily sleep as people are walking past. They don’t really get themselves noticed, and so they tend to stick around. But with slightly more unusual breeds, or when the dog comes straight up to the bars and wants attention, there’s a connection straight away. Greyhounds tend to do themselves an injustice by being so relaxed.”

Conversely, Staffordshire bull terriers can be too boisterous. 

“Staffies don’t always do as well in kennels, so they become more excitable. They love people and, as soon as they’re introduced, they want a lot of attention. That can be a bit much for people.”

In recent memory, however, the dog that took longest to rehome was Bud, who had to endure the double whammy of being a greyhound with a black coat. He languished in Battersea for over three years before finding his forever home. He is now thriving with his new owner and, says Nat, even has his own social media account, so staff at Battersea often receive updates on how he’s getting on. 

And that, it must be said, is the nicer side of Instagram and Facebook, where everyone – animals included – is meant to look nothing less than perfect. 

For further information go to battersea.org.uk

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