Research carried out for Dogs Trust shows over a third (35%) of dog owners think the rising cost of living may impact on their ability to look after their pets, with 68% worrying they may face diffculties in the next year. The 2008 recession saw numbers of stray and abandoned dogs increase sharply, and there are concerns that the same will happen on an even greater scale in the months to come.
Emma Slawinski, the RSPCA’s director of advocacy and policy, warns: “We are on the brink of an animal welfare crisis due to the rise in pet ownership during the pandemic, coupled with the cost of living pressures biting – especially those on lower incomes. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
Greyhound Rescue Wales has already seen a spike in demand from trainers looking to move their dogs on into retirement, with our incoming waiting list now exceeding 40 dogs. This comes at the same time as many potential adopters are reconsidering their ability to rehome a dog due to squeezes on their personal finances. Many of our partner rescues are also seeing dogs returned to them by families who adopted during the pandemic and have now seen their circumstances change.
If you have been thinking about helping a hound in need but are worried about the cost, why not consider fostering? Fostering allows you to give your time and love to a hound in need, while we support you with the cost of feeding, vets bills and more. You can find out more on our Fostering page by clicking here.
References:
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/latest/2022/dogs-trust-cost-of-living