Are our pets the next victims of the cost-of-living crisis?
The UK has a long-held reputation as a nation of animal lovers. But, the latest stats from the RSPCA have thrown that reputation into question.
According to the animal welfare charity, incidents of animal neglect and abandonment are at a three-year high, with 72,050 reports received in 2023 alone.
At the same time, calls to its rehoming helpline skyrocketed, but rehoming has declined sharply.
As a result, the charity’s ‘vital services are stretched to the limit’.
High cost of living to blame
The animal welfare charity attributes the startling statistics to the cost-of-living crisis, citing it as ‘one of the biggest threats to animal welfare’.
And you can see why.
The costs of pet ownership have risen faster than inflation. And it’s hitting pet parents hard.
According to the RSPCA, an average can of dog food cost £0.79 in April 2023. Today, it costs £1.05, a whopping 32% increase.
Insurance premiums have also risen by more than 3%.
Coupled with the extortionate costs of energy, food and rent, pet parents are being forced to make impossible decisions, and their pets are paying the price.
Desperate measures
Abandonment isn’t the only issue animals are facing.
The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) surveyed 5,507 dog, cat, and rabbit owners aged 18+ between 23 December 2022 and 18 January 2023.
The resulting Animal Wellbeing Report highlighted some concerning stats:
370,000 pet owners considered giving human medicine to their pet to avoid the cost of vet bills.
9% delayed taking their pet to the vet when they were ill because of the cost.
1% had their pet put down (230,000 animals).
10% couldn’t afford to neuter their pet.
However, the majority of respondents made personal sacrifices to ensure their pets didn’t go without:
770,000 pet owners skipped meals to look after their four-legged friends.
7% gave up personal luxuries.
16% reduced their energy consumption.
18% made savings on their weekly food shop.
A glimmer of hope
An article on the UK Parliament website says that, with the recent drop-in inflation rates (down from 11% in 2022 to 4% in 2024) and a fall in the price of gas and oil on the global stage, the cost of living could start to come down in the second half of 2024. But even with these falls they will still be well above pre-'energy crisis' levels.
In the meantime, the RSPCA recommends that struggling pet owners visit one of their pet food banks or contact their local RSPCA branch for further advice.
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