National Puppy Day: Pics of pups to pick you up in lockdown

One year since the UK went into lockdown, you might be feeling in need of a little pick-me-up. So it’s lucky that today is also National Puppy Day.

Every year on March 23, National Puppy Day celebrates the unconditional love and affection puppies bring to our lives.

Demand for puppies has soared in the last year, leaving many unable to get their hands on a new canine companion. As lockdown hit, a survey by Pet Classifieds and information site Pets4Homes showed soaring demand for animal companionship. At the peak of the lockdown in May 2020, demand for pets soared 104 per cent above 2019 levels.

Even if you’re still waiting to meet the puppy of your dreams, you can still join in with National Puppy Day by enjoying pictures of the little guys.

Celebrities have been on hand to bring us their own fluffy friends, through the magic of Twitter.  

Wolverine star Hugh Jackman was quick to jump on the #NationalPuppyDay bandwagon, sharing a cuddly picture of himself with his friend Allegra.

In honor of #NationalPuppyDay, I feel it only right to revisit the day #Allegra joined our family. pic.twitter.com/ZjyaXfycPx

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) March 23, 2021

Never ones to miss a merchandising opportunity, hard rockers Kiss got on board with some of their canine fans in their best band t-shirts.

Happy #NationalPuppyDay! pic.twitter.com/xKuNb53su8

— KISS (@kiss) March 23, 2021

Ellen DeGeneres had a whole montage of pups to warm our hearts.

Happy #NationalPuppyDay! This is the montage we all needed. pic.twitter.com/1Lpd6npaWx

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 23, 2021

Meanwhile, classic crooner Tony Bennett allowed us a glimpse of his pup Buddy’s first trip to the park.

Wishing you a happy #NationalPuppyDay from Buddy's first trip to the park. ???? pic.twitter.com/c4JyCiNOup

— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) March 23, 2021

Gillian Anderson shared a photo of her French Bulldog, Nelson, and her Labradoodle Stella (named after her character in The Fall). They were doing a not-very-impressive Star Wars tribute. We’re going to allow it, though, because they’re very cute.

Chewie and Yoda pic.twitter.com/6NkFZH4xvD

— Gillian Anderson (@GillianA) March 22, 2021

Nineties heartthrobs New Kids on the Block noted this puppy’s resemblance to bandmate Donnie Wahlberg.

Happy #NationalPuppyDay from Lumpy Wahlberg!! pic.twitter.com/ab9LY31yHc

— New Kids on the Block (@NKOTB) March 23, 2021

LaToya Jackson got involved to pose with her little Pomeranian called Prince.

Happy #NationalPuppyDaypic.twitter.com/JhJYXqD3ag

— La Toya Jackson (@latoyajackson) March 23, 2021

And the wildly popular Twitter account @Dog_Rates — forever doing a public service by rating the best dogs on the internet — called on its followers to share some of the best dogs on the internet. Well, dear Big Issue reader, we thought we’d share some of them with you too.

There were fashionable young pups:

pic.twitter.com/Ye0SG1JvRs

— cielito lindo ❀ (@susannaesqui) March 23, 2021

Sleepy pups

Caught sleeping first day on the job… is he excused?? pic.twitter.com/nY6eH9oCIa

— Darrel (@Darrelthedoge) March 23, 2021

Noisy pups

pic.twitter.com/TwLBG5u65x

— Catherine Ryan Hyde (@cryanhyde) March 23, 2021

Inquisitive pups

pic.twitter.com/NXlcchjmsn

— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) March 23, 2021

Big-eared pups

smol (except the ears) pic.twitter.com/CrQIhvdPCr

— ???? NELSON (@PupperNelson) March 23, 2021

Frankly, rude pups

pic.twitter.com/cYlWVVeay1

— Buddy????️‍???????? (@MalteseBuddy) March 23, 2021

Monster pups

She’s just a little nugget but she’s got a big personality! ????????‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/qtUBvBKifj

— John Rush ???????? (@JohnRush32) March 23, 2021

Got more pups the world should know about? Share them with us on Twitter at @BigIssue