A man paid £63,000 for three German Shepherds as high demand for dogs in the midst of the Covid pandemic led to extortionate price hikes.

Lockdown fatigue saw people stuck at home rush to buy pets to curb their boredom, which in turn fed a culture of breeding puppies for cash.

As the novelty of owning a pet wore off, and new owners realised the responsibility that came with it, animal shelters became inundated with unwanted dogs.

Rose Milne, 72, from the Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) in Mansbridge, said: “We don’t have a cat or dog without a mental health issue due to the fact people bought pets in the pandemic – without understanding the commitment.

“People bought large dogs, at extortionate rates, that were cooped up in flats – they have not been socialised with people or other dogs and when they can no longer cope, they bring them to us.

“One man that we dealt with paid £21,000 each for three German Shepherds.”

German Shepherds normally cost a few hundred pounds but the lockdown puppy boom drove prices up exponentially.

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Rose added: “At the time it was not unusual to pay five grand for a puppy.

“A doctor came to us after buying two French bull dogs for £4,500 each, and wanted rid of them after two days as they were rough with his toddler – it is madness.

“Dogs were being bred season after season resulting in the animals becoming weak and producing very poor and unhealthy litters.

“This issue was so out of control in the pandemic that local councils and the government were unable to properly regulate the problem – so many of these dogs have come from unlicenced breeders.

“Councils have the ability to shut down licensed breeders but when people are breeding at home, there is no regulation. People are still getting away with this now – making £1,200 per puppy.”

As a result of lockdown, there are now five million more dogs in the UK than before the pandemic, according to SCAR.