Nearly one in 10 UK pet owners are considering giving up their companion to cope with cost-of-living pressures, according to a report.
Nearly a fifth of owners (18%) are already going into debt to pay for their pet care, while 25% said they won’t take their pet to the vet because of the high cost found by online pet marketplace Pets4Homes .
About 60% of rescue centers saw a decline in pet rehoming last year, with 42% full in 2022 compared to 22% in 2019, according to the site’s industry report.
A quarter of rescue centers (26%) said financial reasons were most often given when owners gave up a pet for rehoming.
Large dog breeds were most frequently put up for adoption, with German Shepherds and Staffordshire Bull Terriers topping the list.
Flat-faced dogs, such as pugs and French bulldogs, have fallen out of favor after the breeds became more focused on health concerns.
Meanwhile, goldendoodles were the most popular breed of 2022, with 1,800 viewers per ad, Pets4Homes said.
The fierce competition for a pet during 2020, when there were around 420 potential buyers for every pet listed on Pets4Homes, has now leveled off at around 80 buyers.
In general, lower demand for pets is also reflected in prices, with the average cost of a dog or puppy falling from £2,065 during the pandemic to £995 today, but still up from £876 before the pandemic.
Lee Gibson, UK Managing Director of Pets4Homes, said: “The cost of living crisis is already having a huge impact on pets and their owners. The current challenges have resulted in a clear end to the boom in pet adoption and rehoming that defined the lockdown period, as the cost is discouraging many from looking for a new pet.
“However, the crisis further demonstrates that Britain’s international reputation as an animal-loving nation is more accurate than ever. Our findings reveal that the majority of UK pet owners will do everything in their power to keep and maintain their pets, as they cut back on spending and are prepared to go to extremes if necessary.
“However, what is alarming is that owning a pet is already creating debt for some and that almost one in 10 of us have to consider giving up our best friends.
“Beyond the challenge of relocating so many animals, the psychological impact of separation from beloved animals cannot be underestimated.”
David Bowles, head of public affairs for the RSPCA, added: “Like the insights in the Pets4Homes report, the RSPCA has seen a rise in public concern about caring for their pets, with 19% concerned about being able to feed their mascot.
“The 8% of the public who say they are considering giving up their pet in the survey are now beginning to be seen by the RSPCA frontline services, who have seen a 25% increase in animal abandonment in 2022 compared with the previous year.
“This comes at a time when the RSPCA and other rescues are facing the double whammy of rising costs of their own while being expected to deal with increasing numbers of owner-surrendered cats and dogs.”