‘I’ve lost my best mate’: the owners forced to give up their pets in the cost of living crisis

theguardian.com:

For many of us, having a pet keeps us sane in stressful times, is an integral part of family life, and provides comfort and company when we need it most. Imagine having to give that pet up for adoption because you can no longer afford to keep it.

That was the dilemma faced by Tina, a single parent in south London. In August, she made the painful decision to rehome Max, her 12-year-old rescue jack russell, after he developed a serious skin condition. Tina took Max to a shelter, which said it would look after him until he was matched with a new owner – “something they could not promise me would necessarily happen,” she says.

“I struggled to pay 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, which is all I have for food each week. My dad helped me out a bit, but now my dog needs treatment that I just can’t afford.”

Aside from dealing with her distraught four-year-old child, who can’t understand why Max is no longer there, Tina herself is heartbroken and goes to bed crying most nights. “I feel like I am a terrible person,” she says. “How could I give up this beautiful creature that had been loyal to me all of these years? It feels like a knife through my chest when I think about never seeing her again.”

Research carried out in 2021 by the Blue Cross and academics at Edinburgh University found that 68% of respondents were concerned about the impact of the rising cost of living on their ability to care for their pets, with the biggest source of worry being able to afford vet care. Between March 2020 and March 2021, the UK’s pet population increased by 3.2m. Now rises in pet behavioural issues and the escalating cost of living are making it impossible for