A combination of growing financial difficulties, the rising cost of owning a pet and the ‘Christmas present’ factor could make 2008 one of the worst years for pets being abandoned

Petmeds.co.uk, the UK pet health store, believes that 2008 could be one of the worst years ever for people abandoning pet cats and dogs, and it is concerned that many rescue centres will not be able to cope with the influx of animals.

To help animal rescue centres cope with the influx of abandoned animals, the company is offering them below cost-price medication as well as giving free flea and worming treatments to the new owners.

The company says that there are three key factors behind the possibility of 2008 being one of the worst years ever for pets being abandoned:

1. Financial difficulties: A growing number of people are struggling financially due to rising bills and an increase in their cost of living. Therefore, pet owners in this category may see their animals as an unnecessary cost or an expense they cannot afford, even with pet insurance available to help towards any medical costs

2. The rising cost in owning pets: Veterinary fees and the rising cost of medication for pets have meant that owning an animal is now more expensive than ever before. Indeed, Petmeds.co.uk, which offers attractive discounts on animal medication, has seen average costs rise by around 7% over the past 12 months(2).

3. The Christmas pet rush: Research(1) from Petmeds.co.uk reveals that 1.3 million people planned to buy a dog for Christmas, and 875,000 intended to purchase a cat. Sadly, once the excitement of having a pet fades and people become aware of the full responsibility and cost involved in owning a pet, some decide to get rid of their animals.

Ricky Thomas, managing director of Petmeds.co.uk said: “People often get excited about buying a pet, without really taking into account what pet ownership entails. With dogs for example, you should always consider the characteristics of the different breeds, the time needed to look after the animal properly, and the costs of food, vaccinations, vet bills and insurance. A dog can cost well over £10,000 during the course of its lifespan, and this can often be a major contributory factor to pets being abandoned. And in the current difficult financial environment, people become more aware of the costs involved in owning a pet.

“Animal rescue centres have a difficult enough time trying to look after and find new homes for unwanted pets, so the least we can do is help them out with the costs of the essential treatments needed to look after neglected animals. In a nation of animal lovers, we urge any companies or individuals who care about the welfare of our animals to get behind the incredible work performed by these organisations, and donate what they can.”

(1) PetMeds commissioned the consumer omnibus research conducted by GfK NOP to interview 1,000 people between 30th November and 2nd December 2007. GfK NOP uses a large sample size that reflects the demographic profile of GB. Given this it is possible to extrapolate figures and make projections from the research results within appropriate confidence intervals
(2) Based on the prices of the 100 best-selling pet health products available through PetMeds between May and December 2006, and May and December 2007.