RSPCA shelters ‘drowning’ in animals amid cost of living crisis

theguardian.com:

The RSPCA has recorded a 24% increase in pets being dumped this year as shelters report they are “drowning in animals” amid the cost of living crisis.

Workers are being inundated with calls from owners struggling to feed and care for their pets. Between January and July this year, the charity received 22,908 animal abandonment reports, up from 18,375 in the same period last year, while in the first five months of 2022, 49% more rabbits, 14% more cats and 3% more dogs were abandoned.

One animal shelter in Worcestershire said it was “absolutely rammed with animals” while bills were soaring. In July, the centre’s busiest month so far this year, total running costs amounted to £7,500, double its average monthly bill.

“I’ve worked in animal rescue for 12 years and we’re always busy, but this is different. It’s like our nose is just above water and you just feel like: god, this is almost too much,” said Ned Cotton, manager of The Holdings rescue centre in Kempsey.

“We’re now really seeing the issue of the cost of living crisis. People are having to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pets. It’s a horrible situation for a lot of people to be in.”

The charity has seen a 9% increase in calls to its emergency helpline this year, many from people struggling with vet bills, and their latest survey found 19% of pet owners were worried about how they would afford to feed their pets.

“I get multiple phone calls a day from members of the public who are struggling and now I am definitely hearing money as a big factor,” said Cotton. “And it is difficult from our perspective because sometimes we can help, but often we haven’t got the space.”

He added: “There is a huge backlog, we’ve got animals in private boarding facilities