The ‘stark reality’ for UK pet parents

A research from a vet charity reveals that 4 million owners are slashing their own food budgets to accommodate pet needs.

The rising food and energy costs are grossly impacting pet parents in Great Britain, according to the 2023 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report findings.

The research, conducted in collaboration with market research company YouGov, concluded that 18% of British pet parents are cutting on their weekly food shop to ensure they can “continue to provide” for their furry companions.

Around 3.7 million admitted they are decreasing their energy utilization to cut back on costs so they can keep caring for their pets.

The survey also found that 770,000 pet parents are “even going without necessities,” including missing meals, to accommodate their pets’ needs.

The bleak reality

The PDSA warned that these troubling discoveries indicate the bleak reality for pet owners, many of whom are “forced to make drastic cutbacks as they desperately struggle to stay afloat.”

According to the data, 4 million pet parents in the country are forsaking personal comforts, and 2 million are abandoning travel plans to deal with inflation.

As many as 47% are concerned about treatment costs should their pet get sick. Up to 95% of owners will do “whatever possible” to avoid rehoming or abandoning their pets due to the rising inflation, including borrowing money from family and friends (26%).

The survey also pointed out that 85% of respondents feel that owning a pet makes them less lonely, while 44% acknowledge that their pets have been a “lifeline” for them during this challenging period.

Jochebed Menon