Rising cost of pet ownership leads to animal shelters inundated with furry friends

The cost of living crisis has left some people with the agonising choice of keeping their pet or giving them up to put food on the table.

According to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), nationally, the number of people on universal credit has increased from 570,000 in July of 2017, to a staggering 5.7 million.

On top of this there has been a decline in real earnings of 4.1% in the previous year and unemployment is also on the rise.

Sheffield, however, has seen some of the largest increases, with the DWP stating that over 60,000 people are claiming universal credit with an unemployment rate of 4.7% – a full 1% above the national average.

Free veterinary organisations and pet food banks are a last resort and are inundated with people needing their services.

There is now an enormous amount of pressure on many organisations such as the local RSPCA, Blue Cross and PDSA, who are currently at breaking point.

Sheffield’s PDSA Pet Hospital on Newhall Road was already facing difficulties last year from a national shortage of vets and had to temporarily close in September.

In the last year, the pet hospital has seen a huge increase in demand for their services of over 50% and were only able to offer emergency services.

PDSA Vet Lynne James said: “These are uncertain times and not every eventuality can be planned for. People’s circumstances can change without warning and through no fault of their own.

“Our charity helps pets and their owners who are in need, and we remain endlessly grateful for the ongoing donations we receive to support our work.”

Like all organisations, they need a dramatic increase in the amount of funding they receive and urge local people to donate as much as they can afford.

People are struggling for everyday items like pet food as well.

Critters Kitchen Pet food bank in Rotherham are seeing more people coming through their doors asking for help.

On a weekly basis the bank will get through 200 cans of dog food and 150 kg of biscuits.

But items such as wet cat food is difficult to source and will be given out as soon as it arrives.   

Chris Walker, Head of the foodbank, said: “A lot of the people that we get coming in, they’re either waiting for payments, or they’ve even got Universal Credit, but it’s not covering everything.”

He added: “We do what we do. Because pets, our family at the end of the day.”

He urges people to seek help when they are in need, saying: “There’s always a stigma related to going RSPCA or Blue Cross and asking for help.”