'I lost my best friend': Owners forced to give up their pets amid cost of living crisis

For many of us, having a pet keeps us sane in times of stress, is an integral part of family life, and provides comfort and companionship when we need it the most. Imagine having to give that pet up for adoption because you can't afford to keep it anymore.

That was the dilemma faced by single mother Tina from South London. In August, she made the painful decision to repatriate Max, her 12-year-old rescue jack russell, after developing a serious skin condition. Tina took Max to a shelter, who said they would look after him until he was matched with a new owner - "something they couldn't promise me would necessarily happen", says - her.

"I had trouble paying the vet bills," says Tina. "The one I go to isn't expensive compared to a lot of them, but a consultation alone is over £30, that's all I get for food each week. My dad told me helped a little, but now my dog ​​needs treatment that I just can't afford who doesn't understand why Max isn't here anymore, Tina herself is heartbroken and goes to bed crying most nights. "I feel like a terrible person," she said. "How could I abandon this beautiful creature who had been faithful to me for all these years? I feel like a knife is piercing my chest when I think of never seeing her again. of respondents were concerned about the impact of the rising cost of living on their ability to care for their pets, the greater of concern being being able to pay for veterinary care Between March 2020 and March 2021, the pet population in the UK nor increased by 3.2 million. Today, increasing pet behavior problems and the rising cost of living prevent many people from caring for sick or aging pets.

Frank, who is in his 40s, worked as a computer programmer until he was laid off in 2020. He is single, living on benefits and struggling to make ends meet. He describes the loneliness he has experienced since giving his cat to a neighbor last year. "I never thought that in a million years I would let my cat live with someone else, but I had to put them first," he says.

"It wasn't so plus food plus vet bills. He has a kidney condition and there's no PDSA [vet charity] near me. This isn't isn't fair to him, although it tore me apart to have to move him in. I used to see him at the window of his new home, but it upset me, so I changed my route. Association of British Insurers, the average premium for pet insurance is £271 a year, with an average payout of £822.And without insurance, veterinary costs are excruciatingly high.The Animal Trust, which aims non-profit, charges between £929 and £1,849 to treat a fracture.

As I write my dog ​​Maisie nudges me with her nose, asking for a prom end. Maisie came to live with us, rescued from an abusive situation, when she was about eight months old. She had a leg problem, which luckily was diagnosed shortly after we got pet insurance. This relatively minor operation 14 years ago cost £4,000.

Maisie is now a spinster with extensive arthritis so our monthly vet bills are not not insignificant: regular injections of an anti-inflammatory treatment; weekly hydrotherapy to keep his limbs supple; and all sorts of pills and potions such as fish oil and special foods to keep her pain free. Needless to say, she is insured.

But what about those who are not lucky enough to have the means, not only to keep their animals pain-free, but to keep them at all?

In 2020, Blue Cross opened its first pet food bank in Grimsby, followed by branches in Sheffield, Exeter and Manchester. Sarah Eden runs the Exeter branch, which distributes approximately 150kg of pet food per month. She also offers advice for those considering giving up their pets.

"We're starting to see a real uptick in people asking for help," says Eden. "For us, it's much better if people can keep their pets rather than adopt them."