Britons struggle to cover costs when pets die as bills soar

theguardian.com:

The cost of living crisis hasn’t just sparked an increase in the number of people struggling to pay for vet treatment, pet food and animal day care. It has also left many pet owners facing a cruel and costly dilemma when their beloved animal dies.

A pet’s death may now be one of the most expensive times for bereft owners, particularly if they live in a gardenless flat or rental property.

When my beloved hamster Maisie died, I faced the trauma of figuring out what to do with her body.

The experience was a distressing rigmarole. Yet it’s certainly not one I’m alone in facing. Online fundraising sites are full of grieving pet owners relying on the kindness of strangers.

Freya Liberty from Manchester had her dog cremated and was able to receive her ashes after raising £600 on JustGiving.

Mabel was the oldest resident of Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home when Freya decided to adopt her. She knew Mabel’s seniority would incur additional health costs but it was something Freya had financially prepared for.

However, six months down the line, her pet insurance company cancelled Mabel’s policy, saying that it did not insure American akitas. Other insurers quoted Freya premiums at about £120 a month on account of Mabel’s age. It was cheaper for Freya to pay for Mabel’s medical bills out of her own pocket.

Yet Freya couldn’t have anticipated the cost of living crisis coinciding with Mabel being put to sleep. “We wouldn’t have done the fundraiser had it not been for the energy bill increase in April,” she says.

Costs included a £250 cremation plus a £190 vet bill, and a couple of smaller charges for mementoes such as paw prints.

Freya put as much as she could on to a credit card but was £100 short. She decided to set up a JustGiving page to