A new poll carried out by YouGov on behalf of Dogs Trust has revealed that a third (33 percent) of the UK’s dog owners are worried that, as costs continue to rise in 2023, the crisis will impact on how well they’re able to care for their dog.
Almost half of the respondents said that their biggest finacial worry about their pet is vet bills (46 percent), followed by the cost of dog food (18 percent) and pet insurance (16 percent).
This news came as Dogs Trust announced that it has had 50,000 requests from owners asking the charity to take in their dog in 2022, a new record in the charity’s history.
he outlook for 2023 doesn’t look any more optimistic: the poll also found that 62 percent of people who don’t currently own a dog think the rising cost of living would prevent them from getting one in 2023, while 36 percent said it “definitely would” and 25 percent said it “probably would”.
In an effort to alleviate the pressure on dog owners, Dogs Trust has set up temporary dog food banks at six of its 21 centres, so that dogs won’t go hungry this Christmas. Anybody who is struggling to feed their dog is invited to drop in and collect supplies.
More than two in ten (21 percent) of respondents said their pets will receive fewer presents than normal this year, and more than one in ten (13 percent) owners said they won’t give their dogs a present at all this Christmas.
Perhaps more significantly, fewer dog owners will be going away for a Christmas break this year, with 9 percent sayaing they’d be staying home because they can’t afford a dog sitter.
Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust CEO, says: “Although it was inevitable that we would reach 50,000 calls from owners no longer able to care for their dogs, it’s still a shock and a stark signifier of the animal welfare crisis the UK now finds itself in.
“Through our December poll, dog owners have told us they’re going to struggle this Christmas, and many more are really worried about what 2023 is going to bring.
“Our utmost priority is to keep as many dogs with their families as we can – and stop people having to make that heart-breaking decision to give up their dog.”
