The Cost of Living Increase Will Cause People to Abandon Their Pets

Prices have increased. Taxes have risen and the number of families who have fallen below the poverty line has grown. Make no mistake about it, we are living through a time of crisis. A time in history where, rather than work together to build a better tomorrow, we have war and destruction in Ukraine, with ordinary citizens being caught in the middle.

It is a worrying time for everyone and I acknowledge this but would also like to raise the question of our pets...will the cost of living increase cause more pets to be abandoned?

Lockdown Pets

Over the course of 2020, many chose to invest in purchasing an animal and rather than seeing this as a long term decision, it was done so on a whim. Lockdown Pets are now being abandoned in their hundreds. Oftentimes this is done so in a manner that is understandable such as changes in family circumstances but too often, pets are simply being considered too much of a hassle. They are being abandoned in any way possible.

It is a crisis that is not kind. Animals should be a lifetime investment and not simply for Christmas/a way to leave the house during a lockdown.

The selfish nature of these decisions is enough to put you off humanity but you need to try to understand in order to remedy the situation. I believe that if you need to give up your animal because you can no longer afford to keep them or exercise them through injury, then you should take them to a shelter.

You should not call the RSPCA over a stray animal that is actually yours, as this is wrong and stupid (your pet will easily be recognised via microchip at the vet).

An animal is for life and not just for Christmas. As much as I understand the surge and follow-up decisions I still believe that they are wrong. For every understandable decision to prioritise the animal there was another animal released onto the streets, or on the side of the road as one motorist did in this now infamous YouTube video.

A Looming Crisis

With increasing prices associated with the cost of living and many more families being placed under the poverty line, the thought is, what is next? Whilst the RSPCA and Shelters are dealing with abandoned lockdown pets, will a new load of animals begin to turn up on their doorsteps?

Being forced to leave your pet behind is heartbreaking. It is a horrible decision with no winners and one for which your heart goes out to those that will be affected but there is still no excuse for simply abandoning your animal at the side of the road. Taking the animal to a vet or shelter is tough and maybe a car journey away, but ask yourself, if the situation was reversed, how would you like to be treated?

I was raised to place others first and it is something that I will not compromise on. I believe in working together for a mutually beneficial solution and not taking the easy route. An easy statement to make when you have a roof over your head, I know, but realistically, my wife and I live month to month and could easily slip from the ladder...yet despite this I believe that we would always make the right decision and place others first.

The cost of living crisis will accentuate the Lockdown abandonment of animals and there are not enough shelters to cope with the influx.

We need to work together to educate people about the lifetime cost of owning a pet, what you can do if you run into trouble and what support is available.

Education is king and rather than assign blame, we need to work on a route out of this crisis that will save the lives of as many animals as possible. Overbreeding, unscrupulous breeders and a lack of knowledge about what it takes need to be addressed and we need to work togehter on a mutulaly beneficial solution.

A Final Thought

An animal is for life and not simply Christmas. It is a privilege and a responsibility to own a pet, with which should come a certain level of knowledge, which appears to be missing. People see the best parts of an animal via television and film, which misses the years of training, going to the toilet on the new carpet and behaviour issues.

It is something that is easy to write about but if you have never owned a pet growing up, then you may not know what is required.

I have never owned a dog and would not dream of owning one without my wife. She has lived with dogs and can help guide me in regard to training, she can offer pointers and help me move forward, to feel confident with owning such a creature.

I have the money but not the knowledge and without assistance, it would be frustrating, I know that. Buying such an animal without the appropriate training would therefore be irresponsible.

It would place stress on the animal and myself, resulting in the decision to give the animal up, as depending on the breed, it could be a danger to those around. If I was unable to control my animal then I would have a responsibility to give him or her up. It would be heartbreaking but it would be the right thing to do. The same can be said if I lost my job and could not afford to feed my animal.

It is never easy to abandon your animal but if that is what is best for the pet, then we need to do so in a responsible manner. We need to educate people and emphasise that the age-old message is and always will be true...an animal is for life and not just for Christmas.