GETTY 23 per cent of those surveyed said they would 'definitely' give up their pet if they had a baby

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The shocking study of pet owners' behaviour comes after reports that 30 per cent of new UK dogs are abandoned in the months just after Christmas. But while 27 per cent of current owners believe they would never contemplate giving up their furry friend, 23 per cent said they definitely would - if they had a baby. And eight per cent, of the 2,000 pet owners quizzed by One Poll, admitted that in the past they actually had given away a pet when they had a newborn. The startling research from Co-op Insurance shows that people are still not giving proper consideration to the responsibilities of owning a pet before they buy one.

GETTY Numbers of stray animals have been rising in some areas of the UK

While two in five people in a relationship (39 per cent) had no idea what would happen to their pet if they ended up splitting with their current partner.

Pets need a lot of looking after, from training to walking and grooming, not to mention the financial implications David Hampson, Head of Pet Insurance at The Co-operative

Only a third (34 per cent) said they would actively try to keep their pet if they ended up having a relationship separation. According to dog adoption site dogsblog.com, two thirds (67 per cent) of animal rescue centres say dog abandonment is getting worse. The Co-op study claims 11 per cent believe the main reason is because owners are unwilling or unable to cope with changes within a family, like a split or a baby. David Hampson, Head of Pet Insurance at The Co-operative, said: "Pets are often at the heart of family life but owning a pet takes time, patience and a significant emotional investment. "Pets need a lot of looking after, from training to walking and grooming, not to mention the financial implications. "We would urge anyone thinking about buying a pet to consider the implications - and whether this will fit in with any long-term plans they may have.

GETTY Two thirds (67 per cent) of animal rescue centres say dog abandonment is getting worse

GETTY Battersea Dog and Cats Home reported an increase people abandoning their pets for a holiday