She was found running along a busy road in London after witnesses saw her being pushed from the car and is one of 206 dogs and 164 cats currently being cared for in rehoming centers run by animal charity Battersea. It’s a similar story at other centers across the country – with some seeing record inquiries about dog and cat returns – as the tightest squeeze on living standards since at least the 1960s forces many owners to decide the extra cost of food plus hundreds pound vet bills are no longer manageable. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register “We are concerned that it will be an increasing reason for people to bring their dogs to Battersea,” Steve Craddock, who runs the center in south-west London, told Reuters. Exotic pets such as snakes and lizards also prove very expensive due to their need for special heating and lighting. Three snakes, including a 2.4m long boa constrictor, were recently thrown into pillowcases outside a reptile shop, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) told Reuters. The trend, which follows an increase in demand for pets during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in a country known for its love of animals, comes as households prepare to more than triple their energy bills in January compared to last year , affecting people’s incomes. The Bank of England has warned that Britain is facing a long recession. Black cocker spaniel called Harriet on a walk with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home center manager Steve Craddock in London, Britain August 10, 2022. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska read more
NEW ECONOMIC CRASH
The Dogs Trust, which currently has 692 dogs in need of a home at 21 centers across the country, said the last time it had seen anything like this was after the 2008 financial crash. “This cost of living crisis has hit us much faster than people expected,” said the Trust’s director of operations, Adam Clowes. Such is the pressure that the charity is considering whether to extend an emergency support fund, usually reserved for people on welfare who need short-term financial support to keep their pets, to more middle-income earners. Animal charities say they are also worried that the squeeze on living standards will have an impact on donations, although they don’t see that yet. In Battersea, some pets are being rehomed. Magpie is a British Shorthair who arrived pregnant after her owner of two years realized they couldn’t afford kittens. All four of her kittens have now found new homes. But this is unlikely to be the case for most animals, as another charity, Woodgreen, says adoption applications have fallen to 100 a month from around 10,000 during the holidays. Pilar Gómez-Igbo, assistant editor, could have been a potential owner, but having done some research she is now worried about the extra cost. “As the change in the cost of living became more apparent, yes definitely, it went on the list of things to take seriously,” he said. “I’ll force myself to wait a little.” Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reported by Muvija M? Editing by Kate Holton and Alex Richardson Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
