BLOG: Experts are warning that more of Britain’s dogs and other companion animals may be abandoned in the months to come as the cost-of-living crisis places further financial pressure on families. How is it that animals are always the victims of our human crises?

In the wake of Covid-19 lockdowns, a worrying trend emerged when the RSPCA and other animal organisations reported large numbers of rescues as pets taken to alleviate loneliness and occupy idle minds were abandoned as owners returned to normal life. Now, the RSPCA is once again warning that another wave of abandoned animals may be looming due to yet another human problem - the cost-of-living crisis.

According to the Oldham Times writing today, families in the city in northern England are starting to feel the pinch as food, fuel and energy bills soar amid global financial uncertainty, food security and supply concerns. The cost of gas and electricity is expected to double, placing enormous pressure on families to simply heat their homes, provide hot water and cook meals.

This may well lead many pet guardians to examine their outgoings and make some tough and often agonising decisions, and indeed this is what the RSPCA and other groups fear to be the case.

“As the cost of living continues to rise, we're increasingly concerned about reports of people trying to treat their pets at home. It can be tempting to bury your head in the sand, but we're urging people to seek help if they're struggling with their pets,” the RSPCA tweeted in April.

It’s hard for many of us reading this to comprehend giving up animals in our care, but basic pet care and vet bills that were once affordable before the current financial squeeze - arguably unforeseeable - may no longer be so easy to justify. For some families, it boils down to a choice between feeding their dogs or feeding their human children, a horrendous decision for anyone who cares even a little about their companion animals.

The fall-out of the cost-of-living crisis for animals is yet to be felt to the same extent as lockdown pet abandonment. Dena Dessoky of Pennine Pen Animal Rescue said that at least in Oldham, they had not yet seen a correlation between pet surrender and the cost-of-living crisis.

“It’s such a shame that people are forced into making that choice as many really don’t want to,” said Dessoky. “There are places like the PDSA or Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home which offer low-cost neutering or vet care, but even low cost isn’t feasible for some people."

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Katja Londa, a trustee and lead vet for StreetPaws, shared a different perspective with the Oldham Times and perhaps one that Surge readers may resonate with more.

“Yes, no doubt people are giving up their pets because they feel they can no longer afford to look after them,” said Londa. “However, what I see more than that is people going without themselves so that they can take care of their pets.”

According to Londa, who offers a mobile vet service, many of her clients are simply going without and would never consider giving up animals in their care, choosing instead to forgo holidays and even meals.

“I’ve seen people stay outside in sub-zero temperatures because accepting shelter would have meant putting their dog in a kennel somewhere,” added Londa. “I believe that for every pet that is given up due to financial problems, there are a whole lot more where the family struggles but wouldn’t dream of giving their pet up.”

Rather than blame families for not predicting the cost-of-living crisis when taking on animals, or even the government for not helping families more, we should instead point the finger at unscrupulous pet breeders who sell puppies with terrible health problems and behavioural issues.

Lockdown has only made the problem worse as dogs in particular - taken on as puppies and kept away from other dogs and humans due to distancing rules - are now poorly socialised. With anecdotal reports of young dogs attempting to attack other dogs and even children, the cost to address these problems by specialist pet behaviourists can be as much as £5,000 - an insurmountable amount at a time when more and more families are resorting to food banks.

With lockdown animals still being abandoned, and health and behavioural problems now coming to light, it seems that a perfect storm is fast approaching. But if the last few years has taught us anything, it’s firstly to not take on animals without carefully considering the future financial burden including factoring their well-being into important decisions like starting a new family; and secondly, to not take on animals from breeders who perpetuate already terrible welfare standards.

Animals are once again set to become the forgotten victims of a human-made crisis. Unpredictable as it may all be, and as bleak as it sounds, we never know when the next crisis may come or in what form. We simply must do more to avoid further fallout for our furry friends.

Andrew Gough is Media and Investigations Manager for Surge.

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