As cost of living bites, 500% rise in owners set to give away pets
DESPERATE pet owners across Scotland are giving their animals away in ‘unprecedented’ numbers because they can no longer afford to feed them.
Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home is just one of the animal rescue services who have been inundated over the past few weeks with calls from people needing to re-home pets.
Staff said the number of people inquiring about giving up their pets has risen by 500 per cent on a typical week.
Derek Stewart-Brown, head of advocacy at the home, said: ‘Quite honestly, this is an unprecedented situation, and our biggest fear is that it is just going to get worse. Last week we had almost 30 requests, but a few months ago we would’ve been surprised to get five such requests in a week.
‘It is a heart-breaking situation, not only for owners who obviously love their pets, but also our own staff who, working on the frontline, have never seen so much tragedy and heartbreak.
‘People arrive in our reception saying, “I can’t feed my dog, I don’t know what to do,” and this is now happening almost daily.’
Chief executive Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine has worked at the Edinburgh home for seven years and says the spike in demand from pet owners which started this summer is beginning to take its toll.
She said: ‘It keeps me up late at night, it really does. Right now, we are just about coping but I have a real fear over what will happen if it gets to the point we can’t anymore.
‘People who used to be comfortable financially and who we would rely on for monthly donations are now struggling to afford their pets.
‘I speak often with our staff who take the phone calls, some which have been here for more than 20 years, and they have not seen anything like it. They just do not know where to turn and the pet owners on the other end of the line just do not know how to cope.’
In addition to the rising number of owners who are reluctantly giving away their animals, the home is facing soaring demand from food banks across Scotland for donations of pet food.
Miss Fyffe-Jardine said: ‘People are choosing to feed their pets instead of feeding themselves which is why we are working so closely with food banks to help relieve some of this pressure. But with the cost-ofliving crisis, the businesses and individuals who donate to us are really struggling and there is a real worry about not being able to help all those who need it.’
The combined effects of the costof-living crisis and the number of people who bought pets during lockdown but now cannot look after them have put a huge strain on animal charities.
Chief Superintendent at the Scottish SPCA Mike Flynn said: ‘We’ve seen a rise in dogs coming into our care and calls to our helpline from people looking to give up dogs.
‘We can’t be certain, but this may be due to the cost of caring for a dog during the cost-of-living crisis, as food and vet care for these animals can be expensive.
‘Sadly, it could also be that people took on a dog during lockdown and are now struggling to juggle having a pet with other commitments now they’re back at work, school and socialising as normal.’
He added: ‘This year, our inspectors have had to support pet owners in some horrendous situations.
‘We’re helping people who are not buying food for themselves so they can feed their pet, who are calling our animal helpline in floods of tears because they feel they’ve let their pet down.’
‘Tragedy and heartbreak’