Cost of living and lack of pet-friendly rentals: pet parents in Western Australia feel the pressure

Fresh data unveils that 45% of pet owners in Western Australia, the largest state with more than 2.6 million inhabitants, spend between A$1,000 ($641/€604) to A$3,000 ($1,923/€1,812) on their pets every year.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Western Australia’s 2024 Pet Census (RSPCA WA), which surveyed 1,643 pet owners in early 2024, also found that 26% of pet parents in the state spend between A$3,000 ($1,923/€1,812) and A$5,000 ($3,207/€3,021).

As many as 17% of respondents admitted spending over A$5,000 ($3,207/€3,021) annually on their furry friends.

Inflationary pressure

Nearly 8 out of 10 (78%) respondents indicated that they had noticed an increase in the cost of pet food in the last 12 months, while almost 60% felt the same inflationary pressure in veterinary care.

A recent survey of Australia’s largest private health insurer found a high degree of concern about increasing pet care costs.

Gen Z (85%) and Baby Boomers (76%) expressed the highest concern.

Pet surrendering

In addition to rising costs, pet parents living in Western Australia are struggling to find pet-friendly housing. According to the survey, 18% of Western Australian pet parents struggled to find pet-friendly rentals in the past year. 

From January to March 2024, RSPCA WA received pet surrendering requests from 346 pet owners, marking a 44% jump from last year’s figures. 

The body notes that over a third of these requests over the past 18 months were due to pet parents’ inability to afford, feed or care for their pets, find pet-friendly rentals, or become homeless.