Dog owners going into debt to cover cost of caring for pet
More than 10% of dog owners have been forced into debt in order to care for their dog, new research by Dogs Trust reveals.
The survey, carried out by YouGov on behalf of the charity, shows that 84% of dog owners have experienced a rise in the costs associated with keeping their dog: 77% had seen their pet food increase in price, with 43% had seen an increase in cost of routine vet appointments, and 41% reported that their pet insurance has increased.
In addition, the poll shows that 33% of owners would be forced to borrow money to pay for an unexpected vet bill of £100.
The research also reveals that 22% of owners have switched to cheaper dog food, 10% said they had delayed seeking veterinary treatment for non-routine procedures due to costs, and 9% had delayed or missed appointments for routine treatments, such as vaccinations and flea/worming treatments.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said: “It’s hugely worrying that dog owners are falling into debt with the cost of looking after their dogs, and a stark indicator of how seriously the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on our dog-loving nation.
“We’re not laying the blame at the door of vets, who are themselves impacted by rising costs, leading to higher fees. But we have a situation in which many of the UK’s dog owners are having to make cost-cutting decisions that could be harmful to their dog’s health, such as skipping vaccines and worming treatments, and some dogs are missing emergency treatment because their owners can’t afford it.”
In addition, the research reveals that 3% of dog owners surveyed would have to consider rehoming their dog if the cost of living continues to rise; this would amount to 360,000 dogs across the UK.
He added: “I’m really worried that, despite our best efforts, the sector will reach a point where we’ve reached the limit of what we can do, and we’ll be forced to turn away dogs in need.”
