Animal rescue centres are reporting that they are currently overwhelmed with an increase in the number of discarded pets. The reasons behind this surge are the increasing costs of vet bills and a growing population of cats. The result is that the decision to surrender pets is becoming the norm and sanctuaries are struggling to keep up with the demand for their services. Dog rescue centres are also feeling the strain, as owners abandon larger dogs because they can no longer afford them.
“It breaks my heart because I fill up my kennels with ones that other people won’t take. And I can’t rehome them, and that means I then have to turn other dogs away,” said Linda White of the Alpet Poundies Rescue in Ceredigion. She went on to say that the vet bills for larger dogs could be twice as much as for smaller ones due to their size, which was becoming unaffordable for many owners.
The Ty Nant Cat Sanctuary in South Wales has seen its monthly vet bills double to £6,000 recently. It cannot take any more cats due to lack of space but continues to receive dozens of calls every day from distressed owners. Apart from housing 50 cats, they have an additional 35 fostered in homes. The sanctuary has been successful with its regular adoption days, getting 80 cats adopted in three months; however, they have rescued 93 kittens in the same period.
The PDSA charity believes that owners are looking to cut costs by using cheaper pet food brands, avoiding vet visits, or altogether surrendering their pets. With an increase in the number of unwanted animals, the rescue centres are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. It is a sad situation for the animals that find themselves abandoned, and for the sanctuaries that look after them, which have seen a sharp increase in the number of animals needing their support
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