Pets are for life
Tightening your belt doesn’t mean you have to part with your pooch. Your Life looks at ways to help save cash without losing your beloved pet
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THE foreign holiday is cancelled, fancy restaurants are off the menu and now it looks as if the dog might be out on his ear, too.
According to animal charities, man’s best friend is the latest victim of the credit crunch as cash-strapped owners are forced to part with their pets.
And animal shelters across the country are feeling the effects as they are flooded with waifs and strays whose owners can no longer afford to keep them.
The Blue Cross animal charity has seen a 56% rise in the number of people handing over their animals because they are facing financial difficulties.
The charity, which rehomes thousands of animals each year, has also witnessed a threefold increase in the number of animals being abandoned.
Caring for the furrier members of our family certainly doesn’t come cheap – the RSPCA believes that the average cost of keeping a dog for 12 years is £9,844, and £9,459 to keep a cat for 14 years.
But The Blue Cross stresses that tightening your belt doesn’t have to mean parting with your four-legged friend.
“Charities like The Blue Cross are here to help pet owners who may be facing difficult times financially,” says spokeswoman Louise Lee.
“We ask that anyone struggling to cope should always get help before deciding to give up their pets because there may be a way to keep them together.”
Animal charities have come up with a range of tips to help ease the pressure of your pet on your wallet, and one of the first things to strike off your shopping list is that diamante collar and designer dog carrier.
You don’t really need to shell out on expensive toys, either – dogs enjoy a good walk or a game of hide and seek as much as they enjoy the latest gizmo. And you can economise on essentials such as food and medicine, too, says vet Mark Johnston, spokesman for the British Small Animals Veterinary Association.
“If pets are fed a good general diet, they don’t need additional titbits or treats,” he says.
“They are not nutritionally beneficial, and we see a significant problem with overweight animals.”
Animal charities are also urging people not to skip vital vaccinations for their animal, and to invest in pet insurance.
It may seem expensive, but you can shop around to get a good deal, and for your pet, insurance could mean the difference between life and death.
Mr Johnston warns that people often don’t think about insuring their pet until the first bill arrives, but says insurance will prove invaluable when it comes to paying for routine care – and those unexpected bills.
“Pets will require routine veterinary care, such as vaccinations, worming and flea control, in addition to the cost of food. Owners don’t think about veterinary insurance until they have the pet or get their first veterinary bill – and if it’s a cat that’s been run over, it can be quite high.
“Pet owners must plan their expenses and include either pet insurance or a regular saving plan that will go towards building up some reserve so that if an unexpected bill comes in, they can pay it.”
The Blue Cross also recommends getting your pet neutered – not only can it save you from a costly litter, but can also help prevent health problems in later life.
If you find you can’t afford pet insurance and your pet is in vital need of treatment, you can turn to organisations such as The Blue Cross and PDSA for help.
Many people already have – the PDSA has seen a 10% rise in the number of pets receiving treatment at its hospitals, while The Blue Cross has received double the usual number of applications for financial help with essential treatment for pets.
“If you receive housing benefit or council tax benefit, you could be eligible for free veterinary treatment,” says Sean Wensley, senior veterinary surgeon at PDSA.
“We hope that, with more owners using our services, fewer pets will lose out due to economic hardship.”
Really keen to have a pet but unsure if you can afford it?
“Anyone thinking of taking on an animal should first find out exactly how much it will cost to keep, and ensure they can afford to look after it for the whole of its life,” advises Andy Robbins, from the RSPCA.
“If they cannot afford to look after an animal full-time then they can help care for animals in other ways, for example by volunteering at an animal centre or fostering, which can be just as rewarding.”
FAVOURITE FLUFFY FRIENDS
Where does your pet rate in the chart of top 10 UK pets in 2008 compiled by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association?
1 Dogs (7.3million)
2 Cats (7.2million)
3 Rabbits (1.4million)
4 Birds (800,000 – indoor)
5 Hamsters (500,000)
6 Horses/ponies (300,000)
7 Snakes (200,000)
8 Gerbils (140,000)
9 Tortoises/turtles (130,000)
10 Rats (100,000)
